Read More: San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers

The San Diego Padres are one of two Major League franchises never to have thrown a no-hitter. On Saturday afternoon, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, they had one working for 8-2/3 innings. There were just two problems:

(1) The Padres had only one hit of their own, and no runs
(2) 8-2/3 innings isn’t the same as 9 innings

The Padres went down in the top of the ninth, and then sent Luke Gregerson to the mound in the bottom, with the righty looking to continue the Padres’ combined no-hit effort. He struck out Matt Kemp to lead off, and then induced a harmless grounder from James Loney. At that point, there were two down, and none on.

But up stepped Juan Uribe, and after falling behind 1-2, Uribe drilled a high slider over Chris Denorfia’s head in left field for a double, and the Dodgers’ first hit. And then, five pitches later, Dioner Navarro dropped a single into center to score Uribe and end the game. For 8-2/3 innings, the Dodgers were hitless. And then in the span of six pitches, they picked up two hits and a win.

Prior to the ninth, Aaron Harang, Josh Spence, Chad Qualls and Mike Adams combined to work eight hitless innings, with five walks and seven strikeouts. For the Dodgers, Rubby de la Rosa, Matt Guerrier, Mike MacDougal and Blake Hawksworth wound up winning a combined one-hitter, with four walks and ten strikeouts.

In the Friday series opener, the Dodgers also beat the Padres 1-0.

The San Diego Padres are one of two Major League franchises never to have thrown a no-hitter. On Saturday afternoon, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, they had one working for 8-2/3 innings. There were just two problems:

(1) The Padres had only one hit of their own, and no runs
(2) 8-2/3 innings isn’t the same as 9 innings

The Padres went down in the top of the ninth, and then sent Luke Gregerson to the mound in the bottom, with the righty looking to continue the Padres’ combined no-hit effort. He struck out Matt Kemp to lead off, and then induced a harmless grounder from James Loney. At that point, there were two down, and none on.

But up stepped Juan Uribe, and after falling behind 1-2, Uribe drilled a high slider over Chris Denorfia’s head in left field for a double, and the Dodgers’ first hit. And then, five pitches later, Dioner Navarro dropped a single into center to score Uribe and end the game. For 8-2/3 innings, the Dodgers were hitless. And then in the span of six pitches, they picked up two hits and a win.

Prior to the ninth, Aaron Harang, Josh Spence, Chad Qualls and Mike Adams combined to work eight hitless innings, with five walks and seven strikeouts. For the Dodgers, Rubby de la Rosa, Matt Guerrier, Mike MacDougal and Blake Hawksworth wound up winning a combined one-hitter, with four walks and ten strikeouts.

In the Friday series opener, the Dodgers also beat the Padres 1-0.

(Sports Network) – The St. Louis Cardinals won’t have Matt Holliday in their lineup this afternoon or the forseeable future, as they resume their season- opening three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis announced on Friday that the outfielder was to undergo an appendectomy Friday and that there was no timetable for his return.

The Holliday news comes on the heels of heartbreaking loss on Opening Day for the Cardinals, who watched closer Ryan Franklin blow a one-run lead in the ninth before losing 5-3 in 11 innings.

Cameron Maybin tied the game in the ninth for San Diego with a solo home run then hit a 2-1 sinker to right field in the 11th to set Chase Headley in motion. Headley started from first and advanced to third on the hit, then raced home when Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot mishandled the throw from the outfield, giving the Padres a 4-3 lead.

San Diego tacked on another run after that and Heath Bell closed it out in the 11th. Pat Neshek (1-0) earned the win for getting through the 10th unscathed.

“I noticed the ball got through when I was going from first to third,” Headley said. “I saw the ball was going to bounce and I took a little shuffle, and when I saw the kick I just made a play and was fortunate to get in there.”

Bryan Augenstein (0-1) got the loss for allowing two runs on three hits in the 11th.

Holliday actually went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the loss, while Albert Pujols, who may have started his final Opening Day in a Cardinals uniform, ended 0- for-5 and grounded into three double plays.

Getting the call for the Padres this afternoon will be Clayton Richard, who made a career-best 33 starts last season, going 14-9 with a 3.75 earned run average over 201 1/3 innings pitched.

Richard’s season was highlighted by an 8-1 stretch from June 25-August 24.

Opposing him will be veteran right-hander Jake Westbrook, who was 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts for the Cardinals last season after being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline. He had been 4-8 with a 6.55 ERA in 18 starts for the Tribe.

Westbrook, though, was roughed up this spring, surrendering 12 runs in 24 1/3 innings.

St. Louis was 4-3 against the Padres last season.

The Sports Network

PEORIA, Ariz. – San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Latos has a sore right shoulder, costing him a chance to start on opening day.

Hours after he said Latos would miss his final scheduled start of the spring, Padres manager Bud Black announced Friday evening that Tim Stauffer will get the ball when the season opens next Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Latos said Friday his shoulder had improved significantly in the past 24 hours, but he won’t take his next spring training turn Saturday.

Black said Latos complained of a sore shoulder and skipped Wednesday’s bullpen session, two days after making his last start. Latos threw 90 pitches in four-plus innings against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and three walks.

Latos had increased mobility in his shoulder Friday after the team’s medical staff spent Thursday treating what it identified as an inflamed bursa sac.

“From what it was yesterday, it’s literally night and day,” Latos said. “Yesterday it felt like everything locked and as if there was a huge piece of glass or something sharp inside my shoulder. There was no strength to lift it.”

The injury caught Latos by surprise because he felt as good as he had all spring in Monday’s start and again while playing catch on Tuesday.

“For me to not feel a pinch or anything and one day my arm is dead is weird,” he said. “Bewildering.”

Before the injury, Black had not announced an opening-day starter — but the 23-year-old Latos had been in line to pitch. Black said the injury “just popped up” and the team will see how it plays out.

With Latos on the mend, Black chose to award Stauffer with the opening-day start.

The team’s first-round pick in the 2003 amateur draft, Stauffer missed the 2008 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He made 14 starts in 2009 but began the 2010 season as a long reliever in the bullpen after Latos beat him out for the final spot in the rotation.

Black praised Stauffer for his versatility in 2010 as he finished the season 6-5 with a 1.87 ERA in 32 appearances, including seven starts. Stauffer moved into the rotation in September and provided the Padres with a boost as he went 3-3 with a 2.10 ERA in six starts.

“It’s as good as I’ve felt physically since I’ve been in pro ball,” Stauffer said. “I was pretty surprised, grateful and honored to get the opportunity. It was nice to hear that.”

Aside from missing an outing with a hip flexor this spring, Stauffer has been the Padres’ steadiest starter. He is 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA in a team-high 19 2-3 innings.

“I really like the way Stauff has thrown the ball this spring,” Black said. “It has dovetailed with the way he threw at the end of last year.”

Latos was 14-10 with a 2.92 ERA in a career-high 31 starts last season and finished tied for eighth in NL Cy Young Award voting. The right-hander lost his last five starts, including one on the final day of the regular season to the San Francisco Giants that knocked the Padres out of playoff contention.

Prior to his final five starts, Latos set a major league record by limiting opponents to two earned runs or less in five or more innings in 15 straight starts.

“You can’t fast-forward time,” Latos said. “You’ve just got to take your time and worry about what’s going on now.”

In other news Friday, the Padres released infielder Kevin Frandsen.

A non-roster invite to camp, Frandsen was trying to win a backup job. He started the spring hitless in his first 18 at-bats but batted .216 overall with one homer and eight RBIs in 37 at-bats.

Frandsen is a .243 career hitter in five major league seasons and has played for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.

PEORIA, Ariz. — San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Latos has a sore right shoulder, putting a potential opening-day start against St. Louis in jeopardy.

Latos said Friday his shoulder had improved significantly in the past 24 hours, but he won’t make his next scheduled spring training start on Saturday.

Padres manager Bud Black said Latos complained of a sore shoulder and skipped Wednesday’s bullpen session, two days after making his last start. Latos threw 90 pitches in four-plus innings against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and three walks.

Latos had increased mobility in his shoulder Friday after the team’s medical staff spent Thursday treating what it identified as an inflamed bursa sac.”From what it was yesterday, it’s literally night and day,” Latos said. “Yesterday it felt like everything locked and as if there was a huge piece of glass or something sharp inside my shoulder. There was no strength to lift it.”

The injury caught Latos by surprise because he felt as good as he had all spring in Monday’s start and again while playing catch on Tuesday.

“For me to not feel a pinch or anything and one day my arm is dead is weird,” he said. “Bewildering.”

Black has not announced an opening-day starter, but the 23-year-old Latos had been in line to pitch the season opener Thursday at St. Louis. Black said the injury “just popped up” and the team will see how it plays out.

Latos was 14-10 with a 2.92 ERA in a career-high 31 starts last season and finished tied for eighth in NL Cy Young Award voting. The right-hander lost his last five starts, including one on the final day of the regular season to the San Francisco Giants that knocked the Padres out of playoff contention.

Prior to his final five starts, Latos set a major league record by limiting opponents to two earned runs or less in five or more innings in 15 straight starts.

“You can’t fast-forward time,” Latos said. “You’ve just got to take your time and worry about what’s going on now.”

In other news Friday, the Padres released infielder Kevin Frandsen.

A non-roster invite to camp, Frandsen was trying to win a backup job. He started the spring hitless in his first 18 at-bats but batted .216 overall with one homer and eight RBIs in 37 at-bats.

Frandsen, who spent time with the Salt Lake Bees last season, is a .243 career hitter in five major league seasons and has played for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.

SWEENEY RETIRES: Former slugger Mike Sweeney has signed a one-day minor league contract with Kansas City so he could officially retire as a member of the Royals.

The 37-year-old Sweeney was a five-time All-Star with the Royals. He played for Kansas City from 1995-2007 and spent his last three seasons with Oakland, Seattle and Philadelphia.

Sweeney finished with a .297 average, 215 home runs and 909 RBIs. His final at-bat came in the only postseason plate appearance of his career, and he singled last October for the Phillies.

The Royals said Friday that Sweeney will throw out the ceremonial first ball for the March 31 opener against the Los Angeles Angels. Sweeney also said he would remain with the Royals in some capacity to work with minor league players.

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — San Diego Padres pitcher Mat Latos has a sore right shoulder, costing him a chance to start on opening day.

Hours after he said Latos would miss his final scheduled start of the spring, Padres manager Bud Black announced Friday evening that Tim Stauffer will get the ball when the season opens next Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Latos said Friday his shoulder had improved significantly in the past 24 hours, but he won’t take his next spring training turn Saturday.

Black said Latos complained of a sore shoulder and skipped Wednesday’s bullpen session, two days after making his last start. Latos threw 90 pitches in four-plus innings against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and three walks.

Latos had increased mobility in his shoulder Friday after the team’s medical staff spent Thursday treating what it identified as an inflamed bursa sac.

“From what it was yesterday, it’s literally night and day,” Latos said. “Yesterday it felt like everything locked and as if there was a huge piece of glass or something sharp inside my shoulder. There was no strength to lift it.”

The injury caught Latos by surprise because he felt as good as he had all spring in Monday’s start and again while playing catch on Tuesday.

“For me to not feel a pinch or anything and one day my arm is dead is weird,” he said. “Bewildering.”

Before the injury, Black had not announced an opening-day starter – but the 23-year-old Latos had been in line to pitch. Black said the injury “just popped up” and the team will see how it plays out.

With Latos on the mend, Black chose to award Stauffer with the opening-day start.

The team’s first-round pick in the 2003 amateur draft, Stauffer missed the 2008 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He made 14 starts in 2009 but began the 2010 season as a long reliever in the bullpen after Latos beat him out for the final spot in the rotation.

Black praised Stauffer for his versatility in 2010 as he finished the season 6-5 with a 1.87 ERA in 32 appearances, including seven starts. Stauffer moved into the rotation in September and provided the Padres with a boost as he went 3-3 with a 2.10 ERA in six starts.

“It’s as good as I’ve felt physically since I’ve been in pro ball,” Stauffer said. “I was pretty surprised, grateful and honored to get the opportunity. It was nice to hear that.”

Aside from missing an outing with a hip flexor this spring, Stauffer has been the Padres’ steadiest starter. He is 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA in a team-high 19 2-3 innings.

“I really like the way Stauff has thrown the ball this spring,” Black said. “It has dovetailed with the way he threw at the end of last year.”

Latos was 14-10 with a 2.92 ERA in a career-high 31 starts last season and finished tied for eighth in NL Cy Young Award voting. The right-hander lost his last five starts, including one on the final day of the regular season to the San Francisco Giants that knocked the Padres out of playoff contention.

Prior to his final five starts, Latos set a major league record by limiting opponents to two earned runs or less in five or more innings in 15 straight starts.

“You can’t fast-forward time,” Latos said. “You’ve just got to take your time and worry about what’s going on now.”

In other news Friday, the Padres released infielder Kevin Frandsen.

A non-roster invite to camp, Frandsen was trying to win a backup job. He started the spring hitless in his first 18 at-bats but batted .216 overall with one homer and eight RBIs in 37 at-bats.

Frandsen is a .243 career hitter in five major league seasons and has played for the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.

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