SAN FRANCISCO — Giants left-hander Jonathan Sanchez entered Friday night’s game against the San Diego Padres with a 2-8 record. He left with the majors’ first no-hitter of the season in San Francisco’s 8-0 victory.
Gold Glove center fielder Aaron Rowand saved the no-hitter with a leaping catch at the center-field fence to rob pinch-hitter Edgar Gonzalez for the second out of the ninth inning.
With his father and brother cheering from the stands, Sanchez threw a called third strike past Everth Cabrera to end it and thrust his arms in the air after his first career complete game.
“This is the first time he has seen me pitch. This is a gift for him,” Sanchez, who struck out 11, said of his father. “I feel awesome.”
The pitcher was quickly mobbed by teammates, including Randy Johnson — the last to throw a perfect game.
Sanchez nearly tossed a perfect game — the only runner the Padres managed came on an error by third baseman Juan Uribe in the eighth.
It was the Giants’ 13th no-hitter and first since John “The Count” Montefusco did it Sept. 29, 1976, at Atlanta.
Sanchez, 26, returned to the rotation after a nearly three-week demotion to the bullpen — and he got the call only because Johnson, a 303-game winner, went on the disabled list this week with a shoulder injury.
Ben Margot, Associated Press photo
