PHOENIX — Blake Snell threw seven no-hit innings for San Diego before being pulled, and pinch-hitter David Peralta blooped a single into shallow left field in the eighth Tuesday night as the Padres blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-0.
The Padres were trying for the ninth no-hitter in the big leagues this season, which would have broken a record set in 1884, the first year overhand pitching was allowed.
Peralta’s single off Pierce Johson was one of just three hits for the Diamondbacks. Mark Melancon gave up two singles in the ninth before striking out Pavin Smith for his 36th save.
Manny Machado hit a two-run homer for the Padres in another desperately needed win. San Diego has won three of its past four games and pulled into a tie with the Cincinnati Reds for the final NL playoff wild-card spot.
Padres manager Jayce Tingler made the call to replace Snell (7-5) after seven dominant innings. The left-hander struck out 10 and walked two but needed 107 pitches. The performance came just six days after he threw a season-high 122 pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tingler’s decision was certainly understandable, but the sizable Padres crowd at Arizona’s Chase Field booed Tingler for the decision after Johnson came into the game and booed even more after Peralta’s single.
It’s the second time in less than a year that Snell has been pulled from the mound during a stellar outing. He was rolling in Game 6 of the World Series last season for the Tampa Bay Rays before Kevin Cash controversially made the decision to take him out of the game.
The Dodgers ended up rallying to win the game and the championship.
Snell cruised through the early innings on Tuesday, blowing past an overmatched D-backs lineup with 97 mph fastballs and pinpoint breaking balls. He struck out seven of eight batters in a particularly dominant stretch that lasted from the second to the fourth innings.
Machado smashed his two-out homer on a hanging breaking ball in the fifth to give the Padres a 2-0 lead. It was his 23rd homer of the season and pushed him to 86 RBIs.
Arizona starter Zac Gallen (2-8) gave up three runs over six innings.
Arizona rookie Tyler Gilbert threw the majors’ most recent no-hitter on Aug. 14. That no-hitter was also at Chase Field against the Padres.
The Chicago Cubs threw a combined effort June 24. The other no-hitters this year were thrown by San Diego’s Joe Musgrove (April 9), Carlos Rodón of the Chicago White Sox (April 14), Baltimore’s John Means (May 5), Cincinnati’s Wade Miley (May 7), Detroit’s Spencer Turnbull (May 18) and the New York Yankees’ Corey Kluber (May 19).
Musgrove’s no-hitter was the first in Padres franchise history, which stretches back to 1969.
WEAVER READY
Diamondbacks RHP Luke Weaver will start against the Padres on Wednesday after a lengthy stay on the injured list.
Weaver hasn’t pitched in more than three months because of a strained right shoulder. The 28-year-old has a 2-3 record and a 4.50 ERA.
His absence is one of many reasons the D-backs’ season has fallen well short of expectations. All five of the team’s expected starting pitchers at the beginning of the season have missed time this season. Merrill Kelly has pitched the most with 142 1/3 innings but is currently on the COVID-19 injured list.
UP NEXT
The Diamondbacks will send Weaver to the mound to face San Diego RHP Yu Darvish (7-8, 3.80) in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday.
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