Padres ace Garrett Richards was back in top form Tuesday night, pitching a three-hit shutout to lead San Diego past the Chicago White Sox, 5-0, at Petco Park for its seventh consecutive victory.
Richards struck out 12 and walked only four in his second complete game of the young season. He improved his record to 6-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.05. Richards also added his first base hit of the season, a sacrifice fly and two RBI’s.
Reynaldo Lopez matched Richards through the first four inning but ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth, walking Josh Naylor and hitting Brian Dozier with a pitch. After Austin Hedges’ ground ball moved the runners up to second and third, Richards lofted a fly ball to right field that scored Naylor with the first run of the game.
Trent Grisham followed with his third home run of the season, a two-run shot, to make it 3-0. A single by Wil Myers and an RBI double by Manny Machado made it 4-0. Richards then drove in Eric Hosmer, who had doubled, in the sixth.
The victory leaves San Diego (22-20) at two games over .500 for the first time this season. It was the Padres ninth win in their last 11 games overall.
