Florida

Miami Marlins Avoid Being No-Hit, Still Drop Series With San Diego Padres After Sunday's Loss

What to Know

  • Plantation native Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer as the last-place Padres won a fourth consecutive series.
  • The Padres are the only team in the majors that has never pitched a no-hitter after having played 7,881 games since starting out in 1969.

Sure, Clayton Richard has thought about throwing the first no-hitter in Padres' history.

He gave it good try Sunday.

Richard became the latest San Diego pitcher to flirt with a no-hitter, losing his bid with two outs in the seventh inning during a 3-1 win over the Miami Marlins.

"You look at ifs, whats, and maybes, it's not worth it," Richard said. "It's part of the game."

The Padres are the only team in the majors that has never pitched a no-hitter. They have played 7,881 games since starting out in 1969.

"I'm aware of it, I dream about it," said Richard, who has been with the Padres for parts of eight seasons. "It's one of those things that you want to be a part of and if you're the one that does it, it's even better."

Richard (5-6) took a shutout into the seventh, but Miguel Rojas grounded a clean single up the middle to spoil Richard's no-hit try.

"Bummer," Richards said. "I wish I could have kicked it or done something to stop it. It was a decent pitch, he put a pretty good swing on it, and did enough to get through the infield. No regrets. I executed the pitch."

JT Riddle followed with an RBI single for the Marlins' only two hits of the game.

"I thought we chased a lot of balls down, a lot of easy outs," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Obviously these guys know (how Richard pitches) so his movement was probably pretty good today."

San Diego has come close to a no-hitter a few times this season.

Last month, Jordan Lyles was perfect for 7 1/3 innings until Colorado's Trevor Story singled. In April, Tyson Ross didn't give up a hit until Arizona's Christian Walker doubled on a ball misplayed by center fielder Franchy Cordero.

Richard gave up two hits in seven innings, striking out five and walking three.

"He got quick outs, that's what he does," Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin said. "He works fast. He pounds the strike zone. He had some good stuff going today."

The 34-year-old lefty tied for the NL lead in losses last year with 15, but turned in another sharp performance, giving him seven consecutive starts pitching at least six innings.

"He was really good," Padres manager Andy Green said. "You start to think about that in the fifth or sixth if the possibility really exists. He's such a contact-oriented pitcher that those aren't the guys who really profile in no-hitters very often."

"But you're hoping no ball rolls through," he said. "There was no play anybody could have made on that one. So at least it's not one of those where a guy is going home after the play thinking I could have made a diving play on it," he said.

Brad Hand pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances, closing a game that took 2 hours, 24 minutes.

Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer as the last-place Padres won a fourth consecutive series for the first time since August 2015. Hosmer hit his eighth home run and went 5 for 12 in the three-game set in front of family and friends, including about 60 on Sunday.

"It means a lot, it definitely does," Hosmer said. "It definitely gives me a little more energy every time I come home to Florida and get to play in front of them."

Jose Urena (1-8) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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