Padres at Diamondbacks
The San Diego Padres remain the only team in the major leagues that has never thrown a no-hitter, but they came awfully close Friday. One day after Tyson Ross took a no-no into the eighth inning before allowing a double, the Padres aim for back-to-back wins Saturday when they continue their three-game series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ross struck out 10 and allowed one run and the one hit over 7 2/3 innings in San Diego’s 4-1 victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Right fielder Wil Myers returned from a stint on the disabled list and went 2-for-4 while hitting second in the order in front of first baseman Eric Hosmer, who is hitting .263 with nine extra-base hits but just four RBI. The Diamondbacks dropped a series opener for the first time this season and played without both outfielder A.J. Pollock (right hand injury) and utilityman Chris Owings (head), who were injured in a collision on Thursday. Both players are listed as day-to-day for the Diamondbacks, who have won a club-record six straight series to open the season.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Arizona Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (1-1. 5.73 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (2-1, 3.00)
Richard has thrown exactly five innings in three straight starts following a dominant outing on Opening Day, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball against Milwaukee. The 34-year-old native of Indiana received a no-decision in his last start, allowing four runs in five innings against San Francisco last Saturday. Paul Goldschmidt is 10-for-27 with one home run against Richard, who is 10-5 with a 4.08 ERA in 17 career starts against Arizona.
After opening the season with back-to-back wins, Godley took the loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday, allowing five runs on five hits and six walks over four innings. “I was struggling with my command out there,” Godley told reporters. “Some days you’ve got it, some days you don’t. I just didn't have my best stuff and they took advantage of it.” The 27-year-old is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in six career starts against the Padres and has struggled to contain Myers (7-for-15, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Arizona has won 11 of its last 12 games when scoring four or more runs.
2. The Padres optioned LHP Tyler Webb to Triple-A El Paso to make room for Myers.
3. Diamondbacks OF David Peralta went 0-for-3 on Friday, ending his eight-game hitting streak.