MIAMI _ The last time Clayton Richard went at least seven innings without allowing an earned run, the Padres got four hits from Cameron Maybin, three apiece from Chase Headley and Everth Cabrera and an easy victory over the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. If that feels like forever ago, it's because it sort of is.
Beyond center field at Marlins Park is what is known as the Bobblehead Museum, a transparent showcase of some of the more recognizable players, past and present, from all 30 major league teams. At the moment, the Padres collection includes Headley, Cabrera and, you guessed it, Richard.
Only the last of those players is still with San Diego, this following a nearly three-year absence during which he underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, missed an entire major league season and gritted his way back to this level with the Chicago Cubs.
Saturday, Richard did something he hadn't done since Aug. 19, 2012. He went seven innings at Marlins Park, retired the final eight batters he faced and didn't allow a run in a 1-0 shutout victory for the Padres. Second baseman Ryan Schimpf, who was playing Double-A ball four years ago, continued his astonishing rookie-season production with his second home run in as many nights.
Richard rejoined the Padres this month after being released by the Cubs, seeking an opportunity to start again and relishing the familiarity of the organization for which he once was a rotation stalwart. The early returns are better than even he expected.
After two relief appearances, the 32-year-old took the mound Aug. 9 at Pittsburgh and threw five innings of two-run ball in a loss. Six days later, he allowed two unearned runs over six innings in another defeat. Saturday, his performance was, clearly, the most successful yet.
Aided by his defense, Richard overcame two no-out singles in the first and three two-out singles in the second. From there, he more or less flummoxed the opposition. The Marlins notched a leadoff hit in the third and again in the fourth, but Richard continued to show poise out of the stretch.
His pitch count per inning, over his final four frames: 12, 13, eight, seven. He finished with 94 pitches overall, scattered eight hits, walked a batter and struck out three.
For Schimpf, it took just one swing to, it turned out, decide the game. He pummeled a fourth-inning fastball from Jose Urena, blasting his 16th home run into the home bullpen in right field. The 28-year-old has simply not stopped mashing baseballs since his June call-up, repeatedly launching drives that belie his compact frame.
Unlike in Friday's walk-off loss, the Padres bullpen held fast. Former Marlins lefty Brad Hand, pitching for the second consecutive night, entered in the eighth and retired all three batters he faced.
The Padres whiffed at a chance to add an insurance run in the ninth, when former Padres closer Fernando Rodney escaped a bases-loaded situation. On this night, it did not bite them. In the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Quackenbush set down a trio of Marlins to seal the shutout.
