Cameron strikes again

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Wednesday, July 26, 2006 1:46 AM PDT ∞

LOS ANGELES ---- Finely conditioned athletes themselves, Padres teammates sometimes can't help marveling at the raw strength and athleticism of center fielder Mike Cameron.

"He has that freakish body that is so solid. His body fat is so low," left fielder Eric Young said. "Every day it's like, 'What is Cammy going to do next?' "

And seemingly every day, the Padres are pleased by the answer. Cameron put the Padres ahead Tuesday night with a two-run home run to the opposite field, and he kept them there by throwing out a runner at the plate in a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Unprompted, Padres manager Bruce Bochy mentioned Cameron as the key to his club's third consecutive victory and L.A.'s 12th loss in 13 games since the All-Star break.

"What a great all-around game for him," Bochy said.

It's shaping up as a great all-around road trip for Cameron, who homered for the third time in four games to go along with a crucial leadoff triple in the 12th inning Sunday at San Francisco and a double Monday night.

Since June 1, five weeks after he recovered from an oblique injury that cost him most of the season's first month, Cameron has more extra-base hits (31) than any player in the major leagues.

"I'm just swinging the bat with some authority," Cameron said. "Two and a half months ago, I wasn't able to drive the baseball. Now my body feels a lot better."

Said Young: "If you take out the first month, we'd be talking MVP consideration."

Cameron's power is little more than a bonus for the Padres, who acquired the two-time Gold Glove winner from the New York Mets last fall for his fielding prowess. He committed a costly error that contributed to a loss in the Giants series, but more often he makes a positive difference defensively.

Padres pitcher Chan Ho Park can attest. Thanks to Cameron's third-inning homer off left-hander Mark Hendrickson and a two-run sixth fueled by doubles from Mike Piazza and Adrian Gonzalez, Park held a 4-3 lead in the home sixth.

But the Dodgers had a run in and a runner on second with regular right fielder J.D. Drew at the plate as a pinch-hitter.

Drew hit a sharp two-out single to center, where Cameron cleanly fielded it and fired a one-hop strike to Piazza, who tagged out the plodding Toby Hall to preserve the lead for Park (7-6).

"That was big-time," Park said.

Said Cameron: "It's Toby Hall running. He's got no chance. All I have to do is make a nice, easy toss."

In relief of Park, the Padres received a perfect inning apiece from Alan Embree and Cla Meredith, and they gave closer Trevor Hoffman the night off by adding three runs in the ninth inning. Gonzalez drove in two more with his second double, a laser shot off the wall in right-center.

"I've talked about him so many times," Bochy said of Gonzalez, who's hitting .429 during his 16-game hitting streak. "This kid is only going to get better. We wouldn't be where we are without Gonzo."

Where they are is first place, 1 1/2 games ahead of Arizona after the Giants lost on Tuesday. Where the Dodgers are is firmly in the cellar, a season-high 6 1/2 games off the pace after absorbing their seventh consecutive defeat. This afternoon, when Jake Peavy opposes All-Star starter Brad Penny, the Padres can sweep a series at Dodger Stadium for the first time in three years.

To make matters worse, L.A. first baseman Nomar Garciaparra ---- an All-Star and the team's most consistent hitter ---- will be out for the next five days with a strained knee ligament suffered Monday.

But the Padres aren't ready to write their rivals' obituary.

"This thing is going down to the wire," Young said. "I don't think any team is out of it."

-- Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at b_hiro@hotmail.com.