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D-Backs' Kennedy tries to remain perfect against Padres

Aug 25, 2012 - 1:59 PM (Sports Network) - Ian Kennedy aims to stay unbeaten in his career against the San Diego Padres tonight when the Arizona Diamondbacks face them in the second game of a three-game set at Chase Field.

A 42-time winner in 104 career big-league appearances, Kennedy is 6-0 in nine lifetime starts against the Padres with a 2.34 earned run average in 57 2/3 innings.

He last faced them on July 4 and got a no-decision after allowing four runs on nine hits in seven innings of a game the Padres won, 8-6.

Kennedy dropped his next start after that game, then reeled off four straight wins between July 18 and Aug. 3 to get to 10-8 on the year.

He's 1-2 since while allowing 12 runs in 16 innings.

San Diego opposes him with lefty Clayton Richard, who's also unbeaten in six career outings against Arizona.

A 28-year-old Indiana native, Richard is 4-0 with a 3.89 ERA in 37 innings against the Diamondbacks, allowing 37 hits and striking out 27 batters.

Arizona has managed a composite .259 batting average against him.

He picked up a 6-2 win against the Diamondbacks on July 2 after surrendering two runs on eight hits in 8 2/3 innings.

In nine starts since, he's 4-4 and, for the season, is 3-8 on the road.

On Friday, Eric Stults did it all, tossing seven scoreless innings and driving in three runs as the Padres downed the Diamondbacks, 5-0.

Stults (4-2) scattered three hits and one walk and added a two-run single and an RBI double to carry San Diego to a fifth straight victory.

"He had command of all four pitches, changed speeds on his fastball, which he does, and had the Diamondbacks off balance," Padres manager Bud Black said.

Chris Denorfia hit a solo homer and added a sacrifice fly as part of a 13-hit attack against Patrick Corbin and the Arizona bullpen.

Corbin (5-5), who was 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA in four starts since his recall from the minor leagues on Aug. 1, surrendered four runs on nine hits over four innings to take the loss.

Arizona had just four hits two days after sweeping the Marlins in the first doubleheader in Chase Field history.

San Diego won five of the initial nine games between the teams in 2012, including a three-game sweep in Phoenix from July 2-4. Arizona won the series last year, 11-7.