SAN DIEGO_Jhoulys Chacin's steamiest flirtation with a no-hitter happened four years ago. It spanned 6 2/3 exhausting innings; Chacin had a fever that day. At the time, no Colorado Rockies pitcher had ever come closer to a no-no at the hitter's haven that is Coors Field.
On Saturday at Petco Park, Chacin faced his old team for the second time in a week. Although he again fell well short of history, he succeeded in dealing a blow to a club clinging to a wild-card spot.
In the Padres' 5-0 victory over the Rockies, the right-hander did not allow a hit before DJ LeMahieu went to bat with two outs in the top of the sixth. An at-bat earlier, Charlie Blackmon had given Chacin a scare, sending a drive to the warning track in left.
LeMahieu redirected a 1-0 pitch. A sinking liner shot out to center field, where Manuel Margot dived and gloved the ball a split-second after it contacted the turf. A single had ended Chacin's quest for singular dominance.
Chacin walked the next batter. Pitching coach Darren Balsley went to the mound for a brief visit, but Chacin walked the batter after that, too. With the bases loaded, he found the strike zone with his ensuing pitch, Gerardo Parra flied out to left and the Rockies saw their best chance extinguished.
Although Chacin did not return to the mound _ after he threw 23 pitches in the sixth, manager Andy Green inserted a pinch-hitter _ he already had assembled an impressive line. For the pending free agent, it has been a common occurrence in downtown San Diego.
Chacin finished with six innings of one-hit ball. He walked three batters and hit another but did not allow a runner to advance past third.
In 16 starts at Petco Park this year, the 29-year-old finished with a 1.79 ERA, the lowest home ERA of any major league starter. On the road, he has posted a 6.93 ERA. His overall mark of 3.98 suggests he has been a bargain; Chacin, who has not missed a start, signed a $1.75 million deal in December.
Whether he continues to make half his starts in Petco remains to be seen. The Padres on Wednesday signed Clayton Richard, another veteran, to a two-year extension. A number of young pitching prospects could broach the majors next season.
Of course, they could learn a few things from Chacin. He struck out six batters Saturday, frustrating the Rockies with a biting slider. Colorado did not manage much solid contact before the sixth.
The Padres managed to nick Colorado starter Chad Bettis. In the fifth, Wil Myers drew a walk, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Yangervis Solarte.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cory Spangenberg singled, went to third on an Austin Hedges double and scored on an infield single by Christian Villanueva, who was pinch-hitting for Chacin.
Thanks to a Rockies error, the Padres tacked on two runs in the eighth. Another scored on a sacrifice fly.
Hedges, who caught Chacin and threw out a would-be base-stealer, went 3-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
The Padres received scoreless relief appearances from Craig Stammen, Buddy Baumann, Kirby Yates and Brad Hand. Hand worked around consecutive one-out singles, sealing the Padres' second shutout of the Rockies in three games.
