Padres' Volquez barely misses a no-hitter
Right-hander Edinson Volquez pitched the 26th one-hitter in San Diego Padres history at Petco Park on Thursday night, coming within one tough play of throwing the franchise's first no-hitter.
Matt Downs got the Houston Astros' only hit --an infield single -- with two outs in the fourth. He beat out a ball topped to the right of Volquez. The pitcher fielded the ball but had no throw on Downs.
"I don't want to talk about that play," Volquez joked. "I'm going to have defensive drills tomorrow. I have to make that play."
Volquez retired 15 of 16 last hitters he faced to record the first complete game of his career, the Padres winning 1-0.
In addition to the one hit, Volquez, 29, issued three walks and had five strikeouts. He threw 117 pitches, 75 going for strikes.
It was the fifth 1-0 one-hitter in Padres history, and San Diego's first one-hitter since Mat Latos had one at San Francisco on May 13, 2010. That was also the most recent 1-0, one-hit win. Thursday night's gem was also the third complete-game shutout by a Padres pitcher at Petco Park and the first since Jake Peavy blanked the Astros on Aug. 23, 2005.
Volquez is the first Padre to pitch a one-hit shutout at home since Andy Benes on July 3, 1994, at Qualcomm Stadium.
Volquez faced three hitters over the minimum in a game that almost featured a triple play by the Padres. Justin Maxwell's line drive was snagged by a leaping second baseman Logan Forsythe. J.D. Martinez was doubled off second base, but Matt Downs was barely safe back at first.
