• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Kennedy, subject of trade talk, pitches Padres past Marlins

Jul 26, 2015 - 4:57 AM SAN DIEGO (AP) With the trade deadline looming, Ian Kennedy had a stellar audition for potential suitors.

Kennedy pitched six strong innings to lead San Diego to a 3-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday night.

Kennedy (6-9) allowed a run and five hits. The right-hander, mentioned in trade rumors ahead of Friday's deadline, matched a season high with seven strikeouts and walked one, and also helped himself by hitting a double and scoring.

''It's my third year in a row,'' he said. ''I've been in this situation before. No matter what's going on I still have to go out and pitch. It doesn't matter if I'm going or staying a Padre. Whatever it is you still have to do your job and pitch.''

Interim manager Pat Murphy said Kennedy was spot-on.

''He was good from the start to the finish, his velocity was there,'' Murphy said.

David Phelps (4-7) gave up two runs in the opening two innings and none over his final four.

''I'm just giving up runs early and scratching and clawing to put up zeros the rest of the way, just trying to give us a chance,'' Phelps said. ''I'm not pitching well enough to win right now and it is really driving me nuts.''

Derek Dietrich opened the seventh with a home run, slicing the Marlins' deficit to 2-1. J.T. Realmuto followed with a triple that chased Kennedy.

''When Dietrich hit the home run and J.T. follows up with a triple you feel pretty good,'' Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. ''You got three chances to get the run in and tie it up. That is two nights in a row we had a runner on third with no outs and failed to get the run in.''

Reliever Brandon Maurer came in and stranded the tying run when Adeiny Hechavarria and Cole Gillespie grounded out to third and pinch-hitter Casey McGehee flied out.

''Maurer was filthy tonight,'' Murphy said.

Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 29 chances.

The Padres added a run in the seventh when Melvin Upton Jr. drove in Clint Barmes with a pinch-hit single.

Kennedy had gone through a stretch where he dropped four of five starts before beating the Giants in his previous outing.

Kennedy escaped a jam in the first when the Marlins had runners on the corners by striking out Michael Morse.

''I got in a quick little jam but I was able to pitch out of it,'' Kennedy said. ''The last couple of games I noticed the ball had a little more life on it.''

In the second, Kennedy doubled and Will Venable hit an RBI single.

Yonder Alonso had a sacrifice fly in the Padres first.

''Those two early runs enabled me to throw more strikes,'' Kennedy said.

OH MY, INDEED

Padres announcer Dick Enberg wasn't in San Diego to call the game, but he had a good excuse. The decorated Enberg, hired by the Padres in 2010, was accepting the Ford Frick Award in Cooperstown, N.Y., which is presented annually for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

NO SCRATCHES FOR ICHIRO

Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki entered the series with the Padres on Thursday needing two hits to reach 2,900 career hits. Suzuki, who is 38th on the all-time hit list, enters the final game of the set still seeking those two hits. He was retired as a pinch hitter on Saturday, falling to 0 for 10 in the series.

TRAINERS ROOM

Marlins: RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) will consult with Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday after aggravating his injury in a rehabilitation start. Surgery is a possibility. ... 2B Dee Gordon (thumb) is taking batting practice and could go on a rehab assignment on Tuesday.

Padres: RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder) was to start for Triple-A El Paso on Saturday. C Tim Federowicz (knee) was to catch Morrow. ... OF Wil Myers (wrist) took 40 swings with a short bat as he continues his rehab.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Mat Latos (4-6, 4.48) seeks his first win against his former team and to even his road record at 3-3. Latos lost his only decision against the Padres last year, although he gave up but one run on a hit in seven innings.

Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (3-7, 4.98) has lost his last four decisions and seeks his first win since May 31.