Entering Sunday’s series finale against the Giants at Petco Park, the Padres had never had a pitcher throw a no-hitter. The greatest pitchers the franchise has ever had, from Cy Young winners like Randy Jones and Jake Peavy to Hall of Famers like Gaylord Perry, weren’t able to do it. All-Stars like Kevin Brown and Chris Young couldn’t do it.
So it, in some strange way, almost makes perfect sense that a player who had never pitched for the team before, wearing a uniform the team had never used before, will have to be the one to break the streak.
Edwin Jackson was called up from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday morning. On Sunday morning he had a lot of people believing he was going to make history with that first San Diego no-no. Jackson, who threw a no-no for the Diamondbacks in 2010, had a no-hitter through 6.1 innings before Giants pinch-hitter Conor Gillaspie broke it up with a no-doubter home run to right field.
Still, it was a nice first impression to make with Padres fans.
"It's definitely a great way to have everything kicked off with a new team," said Jackson, who has now played for 11 MLB franchises. "I know I have life still in my arm. Like I say, I know my abilities. I know what I can do. I've been telling people a long time I still feel like I have a lot on the table. I've had an erratic career but I still think I'm in my prime and I still think I have a lot to offer."
Plus, the day was not a total loss. Jackson got the win in a 5-3 victory to complete their first sweep of the 2016 season and it came against the team with the best record in baseball.
Jackson was on a tightrope for most of his big day. The Giants had five baserunners in the first three innings (three walks, error, fielder’s choice) but the veteran was able to get out each time with no damage done.
San Diego’s offense broke through against Giants starter Johnny Cueto in the 4th inning. Matt Kemp and Christian Bethancourt both hit monster solo home runs to put the Padres up 2-0. In the top of the 6th Ryan Schmipf singled home Alex Dickerson and Jackson, who had a pair of singles at the plate, lined one to left-center to bring home Bethancourt and put the Padres up 4-0.
In the top of the 7th Jackson struck out Brandon Crawford (his 4th K of the afternoon) before running into trouble. Gregor Blanco hit a dribbler back to the mound but Edwin bobbled it and couldn’t get the out at first. It was clearly an error so the no-hitter was intact but Ramiro Pena followed with a walk and Giants manager Bruce Bochy sent in Conor Gillaspie to pinch-hit.
It was the right move for the San Francisco skipper. Gillaspie crushed a 3-run home run to right field, the first and only hit Jackson gave up. Padres manager Andy Green went out to get Jackson, who walked off the field to a standing ovation from the 35,784 fans at Petco Park.
Gillaspie’s shot also cut the San Diego lead to 4-3 but Yangervis Solarte got one of them back with a solo home run to right field. From there Ryan Buchter and new closer Brandon Maurer kept the Giants off the scoreboard to complete the sweep.
The Padres hit the road for a 10-game road trip through St. Louis, Washington and Toronto (for the first time ever) that starts on Monday at Busch Stadium. If Christian Friedrich can beat San Diego native Mike Leake then the Padres will have a 4-game winning streak their longest of the year.
