Padres Nearly No-Hit by Mets Steven Matz

The Padres didn’t get a hit until the 8th inning, Clayton Richard returned to the Padres rotation and pitched well, but the Mets beat the Padres 5-1 behind Steven Matz to stay in the wild card hunt.

Alexei Ramirez got the first hit for the Padres with 1 out in the 8th inning, and though they ended up scoring to pull close, the Mets opened it up further in the top of the 9th to seal the victory.

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Clayton Richard pitched five innings and allowed just 2 runs in his first start for the Padres since 2013. Leonel Campos pitched two innings to keep it close but the Mets opened up with 3 against Jose Dominguez in the 9th. Richard threw 74 pitches total, 44 for strikes and will be a part of a temporary Padres six man rotation. He will be on a pitch count as he stretches his arm out. Today that limit was 75.

The story of the day was Matz. He had started the year strong and went 7-1 as the season started. Then some minor, nagging injuries had slowed his season and he had not been pitching well since the All Star Break. He turned that all around Sunday and the Mets will need him for the final 40+ games as with the win they are now just 2 games back from the second NL Wild card spot. He was seeking to become just the second Mets pitcher to throw a no-hitter, the first being Johan Santana.

Next: Padres To Use Six Man Rotation

The Padres now head to Tampa Bay for three against the Rays before heading home to San Diego. It was a frustrating day at the plate again for the Friars but they did avoid being shutout which would add to their league leading total of shutouts in 2016. It was a good welcome back for Richard a day after Brandon Morrow made his first appearance for the Padres since the beginning of last season. Now the Padres will evaluate the final month and a half of the season to start figuring out their own plans for 2017.