Solarte playing key role in Padres' recent run

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

Yangervis Solarte has played a major role in the Padres' 12-4 run since July 12.

While starting 15 of those 16 games at third base, Solarte has hit .311 (19-for-61) with four doubles, two triples, a home run, six RBIs and 11 runs scored. He's posted a .369 on-base percentage with a .492 slugging percentage over that span (.861 OPS), while raising his average from .247 to .259.

Solarte was 2-for-4 on Saturday night to stretch his hitting streak to seven games, which matched his longest streak of the season (June 30-July 6). He is 12-for-31 (.387) during the streak -- with three doubles, two triples, three RBIs and five runs scored.

Since the second half began, Solarte is 17-for-54 (.315) in 12 games, with four RBIs and eight runs scored. He has started 12 of the Padres' 13 second-half games at third.

Solarte isn't the only hot hitter during the Friars' hot streak:

• Right fielder Matt Kemp is hitting .322 (19-for-59) with four doubles, four home runs, 12 RBIs and nine walks, while posting a .420 on-base percentage and a .593 slugging percentage (1.013 OPS).

• Second baseman Jedd Gyorko is 14-for-55 (.255) with two doubles, two homers and eight RBIs.

• Left fielder Justin Upton has four homers and 10 RBIs.

FROM THE SCORECARD

• San Diego's 12-4 record since July 11 is the second-best in the Major Leagues. Unfortunately, the best mark is held by one of the teams the Padres are chasing in their bid for a National League Wild Card berth. The Giants have gone 13-3. The Padres are 30-19 in games played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this season and 21-34 during the first four days of the week. They are 50-28 when they score two or more runs.

• Solarte's seven-game hitting streak is the longest active streak among the Padres. But center fielder Will Venable has a six-game streak in which he is 9-for-27 (.333) with a double, three RBIs and five runs scored. Gyorko has hit in four straight games (8-for-15 with a double and three RBIs), while catcher Derek Norris has hit in three straight games -- going 8-for-13 (.615) with a double, a homer, six RBIs and four runs scored.

• Venable and Solarte have each hit safely in the last six games in which they batted Nos. 1-2, respectively, in the Padres' batting order. They have hit a combined .377 with 10 runs scored, six RBIs, three doubles and a triple.

• Craig Kimbrel is the seventh closer to record a 30-save season in Padres history. The others are Trevor Hoffman (13 30-plus save seasons), Rollie Fingers (two), Heath Bell (three), Huston Street (one), Mark Davis (one) and Randy Myers (one). Goose Gossage never had more than 26, although he was used differently.