July 3, 2012
The San Diego Padres sent out a red-hot Clayton Richard to start their pivotal series with the Arizona Diamondbacks and he did not disappoint. He went 7 innings while allowing 6 hits and 1 run while allowing 1 walk and striking out 3. His record improved to 8-5 and he lowered his ERA to a dazzling 3.06. His first start this month builds on the spectacular June that he had where he went 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA over 32 innings.
Despite the great performance by Richard, the game was tied at 1-1 going into the 8th inning. The 8th started with a bang, with Wilson Valdez leading it off with a double. Kirk Niuewenhuis then pinch-hit for Richard, ending his night, and moved Valdez to 3rd with a groundout. Evereth Cabrera then hit a sac fly to center that plated Valdez, small-ball at its finest. Jerome Williams pitched a scoreless 8th and the Padres added an insurance run in the 9th after Will Venable singled, stole second and scored on a Yorvit Torrealba RBI double.
Padres Notes...Tyler Clippard pitched the 9th and struck out 2 batters while allowing 1 hit. It was his 19th save of the season...The Padres only managed 6 hits, Will Venable was 2-4 with 1 run and 1 SB and Clayton Richard was 1-2 with 1 run.