Padres 0 - 8 Giants
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Sep 12, 2015 - 6:49 AM Madison Bumgarner has a chance to match his career high in wins and get closer to becoming the first member of the San Francisco Giants to reach 20 in 22 years.

The left-hander can also register a seven-game home winning streak Saturday night against the San Diego Padres.

Bumgarner (17-7, 3.05 ERA) is one win shy of equaling his career high from last year and is also nearing 20, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by a Giants pitcher since John Burkett and Bill Swift in 1993.

He has won six of his last seven starts behind a 2.13 ERA but labored through six innings while yielding four runs and nine hits in Sunday's 7-4 victory at Colorado.

"When you're not having maybe your best game and you still find a way to win, that's definitely a big plus for you and something you can feel good about," Bumgarner said.

He should feel great about his performances at home, compiling a 1.42 ERA while winning six straight starts for the first time since setting a personal best with an eight-game run bridging 2011-12.

Bumgarner is 1-0 while allowing two runs with 20 strikeouts in 14 2-3 innings over two home meetings with San Diego.

The Giants (73-68) have won four of six following a seven-game slide. They've taken nine of the past 12 matchups with San Diego (67-75) after opening this three-game series with a 9-1 victory Friday.

The Padres turn to Ian Kennedy (8-13, 3.99), who is trying to bounce back from one of his worst performances of the season. The right-hander surrendered six runs - four earned - and a solo homer to opposing starter Kyle Kendrick in five innings of a 6-4 loss to Colorado on Monday.

"It's the worst feeling giving up a home run to a pitcher," said Kennedy, who had a 1.72 ERA while splitting four decisions over his five previous starts.

Kennedy is trying to win on the road for the first time since beating Oakland on June 18. He's 0-6 with a 3.30 ERA in seven starts since, receiving seven total runs of support.

The Padres didn't inspire much confidence with six hits Friday, giving them 14 while being outscored 25-5 during a three-game slide to the Giants.

The offense wasn't the only problem for Kennedy at San Francisco on June 24, as he surrendered six runs - one earned - with four walks in six innings of a 6-0 loss.

He beat the Giants at home July 20, yielding two runs in six innings of a 4-2 victory. He's 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in four overall matchups this year.

Kennedy has allowed Marlon Byrd to go 3 for 10 with two homers off him over the past three years. The right fielder enters 11 for 21 over the past five games after getting three hits and an RBI on Friday.

He's hitting .385 with two homers and 12 RBIs in seven home games since being acquired from Cincinnati on Aug. 20.

Buster Posey, who is batting .488 in the past 12 games, will try to tee off on Kennedy again. Posey is 17 for 43 while hitting a grand slam off him June 24. He's compiled a .419 average with 13 RBIs in his last nine home meetings with the Padres, losers of 13 of 19.






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