MIAMI -- For Clayton Richard -- of all pitchers -- to become the first Padre in history to throw a no-hitter, it was always going to take a dash of luck. Richard is a sinkerballer who pitches to contact and gets more ground balls, on average, than any other starter in the Majors.
That luck deserted him in the seventh inning on Sunday afternoon at Marlins Park, where the Padres reeled off their fourth straight series victory with a 3-1 win.
Richard had thrown 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball when Miguel Rojas bounced a hard chopper through the middle.