Diamondbacks 3, Padres 1

It was another routine night in the NL West for Ian Kennedy, which meant another victory for the Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander.

Kennedy struck out nine in six innings to remain perfect for his career against San Diego, and Jason Kubel doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to send the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-1 victory over the Padres on Thursday night.

Kennedy (2-0) allowed one run and five hits to improve to 6-0 against the Padres in eight career starts, with a 1.95 ERA, 68 strikeouts and nine walks in 50 2-3 innings. He is 8-0 in his last nine starts overall.

Additionally, he's 12-0 in his last 17 starts against NL West teams.

''That's the fun part about this game. I have fun in those situations where I face guys so many times,'' he said. ''It just depends on how you get them out. Guys get themselves out a lot more than I get them out. That's the fun part about pitching.

''It's like if you face somebody so many times, and you wonder if they're thinking along with you. Do I switch it up? do I go with it again? And I love that about pitching. That little game within the game. Sometimes it backfires, sometimes it doesn't.''

The Diamondbacks, who matched the 2000 club for the best six-game start at 5-1, took two of three from the Padres. Chris Young hit a solo homer with two outs in the eighth, his third.

Kennedy gave up hits to his first three batters, including a leadoff triple to right-center by Cameron Maybin, who scored on Will Venable's single up the middle. Chase Headley singled before Kennedy struck out the side.

''If you're not in the moment, it can get out of hand,'' he said. ''I felt I needed to shut them down at that one particular moment in the inning I battled through that and pitched my game after that.''

Padres catcher Nick Hundley, who went 0 for 4 to extend his season-opening slump to 0 for 19, said it was ''the usual'' from Kennedy. ''He's got good live stuff, a good live fastball. It's around 90-91 but it jumps like it's 95. He's very consistent for them. He's the kind of guy they hang their hats on every time to get a quality, consistent start.''

San Diego had only three more baserunners against Kennedy, who retired 12 straight batters from the second to the sixth inning.

J.J. Putz pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in four chances.

Micah Owings (0-2), signed as a free agent from the Diamondbacks in the offseason, took the loss after allowing an unearned run in the sixth. Willie Bloomquist reached on shortstop Jason Bartlett's throwing error and scored on Kubel's double down the right-field line. It was San Diego's 10th error in seven games.

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases on Lyle Overbay's two-out walk against Luke Gregerson before Geoff Blum hit into a force play.

Young's homer, down the left-field line, was the 121st of his career, tying Mark Reynolds for third on the Diamondbacks' all-time list.

''The only way you can get it out of the park it seems like at night is to go down the line. Coincidentally I just happened to be able to get the head out on it,'' Young said.

Padres starter Anthony Bass was pulled after allowing Aaron Hill's RBI single with one out in the fifth. Bass was starting in place of Dustin Moseley, who went on the disabled list Sunday with extensive damage in his right shoulder.

Bass allowed one run and three hits, struck out five and walked two.

NOTES: Padres manager Bud Black said RHP Joe Wieland will be called up to start Saturday night's game at Los Angeles, which will be his major league debut. Wieland is one of two prospects obtained from Texas for Mike Adams on July 31. ... Arizona's Willie Bloomquist singled to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his career best. ... Arizona SS Stephen Drew, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury on July 20, saw his first game action when he played in an extended spring training contest on Thursday. He went 1 for 4 with a single and turned a double play. ... Arizona reliever Takashi Saito, who began the season on the 15-day disabled list with a right calf strain, is scheduled to pitch in an extended spring game Friday. ... The Padres open a series at Los Angeles on Friday night, when LHP Clayton Richard (1-0) is scheduled to start opposite Aaron Harang (0-1), who led the Padres with 14 victories last year. Richard beat Harang and the Dodgers 8-4 on Sunday as the Padres avoided a four-game sweep.