Caminiti, Crowd Making Big Noise

It’s getting to be Ken Caminiti’s time of year.

The San Diego third baseman, whose torrid second half in 1996 made him the unanimous selection as the National League’s most valuable player, is red hot with one game left before the All-Star break.

Caminiti had a three-run homer and five RBIs as the Padres defeated Colorado, 9-1, on Saturday night before 61,148 fans, the largest baseball crowd ever in San Diego and the biggest in the majors this year.

Caminiti also doubled twice and had a sacrifice fly. In his last eight games, he is 15 for 28 (.536) with six doubles, two homers and nine RBIs, raising his average from .240 to .277. In the Padres’ 4-2 victory Friday night, he hit a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning.

“I’m feeling better,” said Caminiti, who was sidelined 21 games in May because of a thigh injury. “When you take a whole month off, you’re trying to find yourself again. I’m trying to get it.”

Caminiti had off-season knee surgery and also has been bothered by a sore back this year.

“Health is key with Cammy,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s why he’s running so well. He has his legs under him. He was playing without his legs.”

The switch-hitting Caminiti hit two doubles and a sacrifice fly batting right-handed against Bobby Jones and homered from the left side against Jerry Dipoto.

“He kills us, especially here, and he does it from both sides of the plate,” said Manager Don Baylor, whose Rockies dropped to 19 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Padres. “We always seem to be in town when he’s hot.”

In 1995, Caminiti homered from both sides of the plate in four games, including one against Colorado. His five RBIs Saturday were his most since driving in six at Colorado on July 10, 1997.

Mark Langston (3-1) yielded six hits in six scoreless innings and struck out five.