Giants' Sanchez fires no-hitter at Padres

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jonathan Sanchez, an unlikely candidate, pitched the majors' first no-hitter this season Friday night, dominating the San Diego Padres with an array of pitches in the San Francisco Giants' 8-0 victory.

The 26-year-old left-hander returned to the rotation after a nearly three-week demotion to the bullpen -- and he only got the call because 303-game winner Randy Johnson went on the disabled list earlier this week with a shoulder injury.

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.

Sanchez nearly tossed a perfect game -- the only runner the Padres managed came on an error by third baseman Juan Uribe in the eighth.

Sanchez threw the Giants' 13th no-hitter and first since John Montefusco did it on Sept. 29, 1976, at Atlanta. It was their first no-hitter in San Francisco since Ed Halicki beat the New York Mets in the second game of a doubleheader on Aug. 24, 1975.

The Padres failed to get a hit for the first time since Bud Smith blanked them 4-0 pitching for St. Louis on Sept. 3, 2001, and the seventh occasion in franchise history.

Werth added to NL

Jayson Werth's power push paid off.

Fresh from homering for the fourth straight game, the Philadelphia outfielder was picked for the NL All-Star team Friday as a replacement for injured New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran.

The World Series champion Phillies put three outfielders on the NL roster for Tuesday night's game. Left fielder Raul Ibanez was elected by fans to start and center fielder Shane Victorino won a spot in Internet voting for reserves.

It's the first time in 37 years that an NL team sent three outfielders to the All-Star game -- Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Al Oliver went for Pittsburgh in 1972.

Overall, this is the 13th time overall that a team had three outfielders in an All-Star game. The 1995 Cleveland Indians were the most recent to do it with Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle and Kenny Lofton.

Werth homered Thursday night as the NL East-leading Phillies beat Cincinnati 9-6. He is batting .268 with 20 home runs and 54 RBIs.

Beltran is on the disabled list because of a bone bruise below his right knee. He'll be re-examined during the All-Star break, and will have an MRI exam.

-- The Associated Press