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 Montgomery, a rookie, threw a one-hitter for his second consecutive
shutout, leading the Mariners to a 5-0 win over the San Diego Padres
on Tuesday night.
Montgomery (3-2) walked four, hit a batter and struck out seven in
his sixth career start. The left-hander, who turns 26 on Wednesday,
fired a five-hitter against the Kansas City Royals on June 23.
"It's easy to sum up," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's
been outstanding."
San Diego's only hit came with one out in the seventh inning when
third baseman Yangervis Solarte laced a double to left field.
Montgomery escaped the jam when retiring second baseman Jedd Gyorko
and center fielder Melvin Upton Jr.
"I was a little let down, but it wasn't a good pitch," Montgomery
said after Solarte's hit. "I almost expected it."
Few anticipated Montgomery, who never threw a minor-league shutout,
to have two in six outings.
"I had no idea what to expect when we got him," McClendon said. "But
every outing he impresses more and tonight was no different."
Last year at Triple-A Durham, Montgomery was part of a combined
no-hitter with former Padres right-hander Brad Boxberger.
Montgomery, who threw a career-high 113 pitches, became the seventh
Mariner to record consecutive shutouts. He is the 12th major league
rookie since 1980 to accomplish the feat.
"I just wanted to stay with it, keep attacking, making good pitches
and get outs," said Montgomery, whose weapons included a fastball,
cutter, change and curve. "I made better pitches when I was behind
in the count."
The Mariners backed Montgomery with home runs from catcher Mike
Zunino and shortstop Brad Miller.
Padres starter Ian Kennedy (4-7) surrendered four runs on five hits
and two walks in five innings.
"You have to be pretty perfect when the other guy has a no-hitter
going into the seventh inning," Kennedy said. "It was the one big
inning where I couldn't keep them from scoring and the big homer by
Miller. Otherwise, I felt good."
Seattle (35-42) turned in two outfield defensive gems in supporting
Montgomery.
Center fielder Austin Jackson made a nice catch on Melvin Upton's
sinking line drive in the fifth. Left fielder Seth Smith made an
over-the-shoulder catch on left fielder Justin Upton's drive in the
seventh, just before Solarte broke up the no-hitter.
The Padres, who have lost two straight and five of eight, were
blanked for the 12th time this year. At 37-42, they fell five games
under .500 for the second time.
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Seattle opened the scoring in the third inning on Zunino's one-out
homer over the left field fence. Zunino redirected Kennedy's 92 mph
fastball for his ninth homer of the season. First baseman Logan
Morrison followed with a two-out triple, but second baseman Robinson
Cano struck out.
The Mariners increased their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning, with
Miller's two-run homer the key blow.
Earlier in the fourth, center fielder Austin Jackson's RBI single
drove in third baseman Kyle Seager, who reached on a leadoff single.
Miller's shot into the second deck in right field was his seventh of
the year.
But it was nothing like the shot in the arm Montgomery has proved to
the rotation.
"I knew about it," Montgomery said of his no-hit bid. "But I think I
did a good job of blocking everything out."
Padres interim manager Pat Murphy faced Montgomery on April 18 at
Triple-A El Paso. That Padres team chased him in three innings in a
decisive win.
"Hats off to the kid," Murphy said. "He did great. We couldn't get a
pattern on him."
NOTES: Padres 2B Jedd Gyorko was recalled from Triple-A El Paso
after being demoted on June 10, which followed him losing his job to
Cory Spangenberg. ... Spangenberg was placed on the DL with a sore
left knee. ... San Diego INF Will Middlebrooks didn't start due to a
sprained ankle but appeared as a sub. ... Mariners RHP Felix
Hernandez is fine despite exiting his last start following six
innings because of heat exhaustion. ... With All-Star balloting
ending Thursday, Mariners DH Nelson Cruz has eclipsed Kansas City's
Kendry Morales for a starting spot on the AL team. ... Struggling
Seattle 2B Robinson Cano was No. 2 in the batting order for sixth
time. He batted third in 67 games.
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