The law of averages and a weekend visit to Denver's Coors Field served as a fortunate convergence of events for the San Diego Padres.

Consecutive wins on Saturday night and Sunday that saw San Diego score a total of 18 runs, or six more than it managed during a five-game losing streak, pushed them within a game of the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

And the Padres head home Monday night for the start of a seven-game homestand with the first of three games against the desperate Cincinnati Reds.

San Diego (78-65) even tapped into its dormant power stroke Sunday for four homers during an 8-1 win. That included the team's longest homer of the year, a 452-foot poke from Manny Machado in the first inning with Luis Arraez aboard.

Manager Mike Shildt took pleasure in seeing M

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