Montgomery one-hits Padres for shutout feat
SAN DIEGO -- Mike Montgomery didn't allow a hit until the seventh inning on Tuesday and finished with a shutout as the Mariners topped the Padres, 5-0, at Petco Park.
Montgomery, coming off a five-hit shutout of the Royals the last time out, allowed his only hit with one out in the seventh as Yangervis Solarte doubled. Montgomery walked four, hit a batter and struck out seven. He became the 12th Major League rookie to throw consecutive shutouts since 1980 and first since Jeremy Sowers of the Indians in 2006.
"It's pretty easy to sum up," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. "The kid was outstanding."
The Mariners got home runs from Mike Zunino and Brad Miller off Padres pitcher Ian Kennedy (4-7). Kennedy allowed four runs in five innings and left after throwing 70 pitches.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Montgomery shines again: The Mariners rookie has been a revelation since being called up to fill in for the injured James Paxton. Other than Solarte's double, the Padres advanced only one other runner to second base against the 25-year-old southpaw, when he put two on with a walk and hit batter in the fifth. He's pitched 18 straight scoreless innings and his 1.62 ERA is the lowest ever for the first six starts of a career by a Mariners pitcher, breaking the 1.75 of Paxton in 2013-14.
"He's shown a lot of poise," McClendon said. "I had no idea what to expect when we first got him. Each and every outing, he impresses me even more. Tonight was no different." More >
Video: SEA@SD: Montogomery completes one-hit shutout
No no-no: The Padres weren't completely lacking in baserunners on Tuesday -- as they had three walks and a hit batter entering the seventh inning. But for 6 1/3 innings they were without a hit until Solarte doubled down the left-field line. More >
Zunino, Miller rack 'em up: Zunino is hitting just .167, but the Mariners catcher continues hitting balls over walls with regularity. Zunino smoked his second homer in the past three games and ninth of the season to give Seattle a 1-0 lead in the third. The 24-year-old now has 31 home runs since the start of 2014. Miller followed with a two-run blast to right in the fourth for a 4-0 lead, giving him seven on the season.
Video: SEA@SD: Miller slugs two-run homer to right-center
"It's just been a work in progress with [new hitting coach Edgar Martinez]," Zunino said. "Just pounding the basics and trusting my swing. I've been able to bring my approach into games and I'm getting pitches that are fitting that and I'm trying not to miss them. That's the biggest thing. Just getting pitches to hit and barrel them up."
Kelley picks up slack: Kennedy didn't have it, allowing four runs in five innings. But reliever Shawn Kelley did, striking out three in two shutout innings. Kelley, who had a 10.13 ERA in April, had a 3.24 ERA in May and now has a 2.08 ERA for June.
QUOTABLE
"It was the way he kept guys off-balance. He had a good changeup. That was pretty evident when he got in a [tough] situation it was the pitch that he went to the most." -- Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko
"I knew, but because I was hitting, I was kind of focused on hitting and watching their pitcher between innings where I normally wouldn't. I knew about it, but I thought I did a good job of blocking that out. Maybe I didn't feel 100 percent out there, but it was just a matter of keep attacking and using that mindset and trusting the defense and my stuff." -- Montgomery on his no-hit bid
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Mariners had scored three runs or fewer in 25 of their previous 31 games going into Tuesday's game and were 6-19 in those 25 games, while going 6-0 when they topped three runs.
REPLAY REVIEW
Padres interim manager Pat Murphy used a challenge in the bottom of the fifth inning to contest a call at first base as Gyorko tried to beat out a 5-4-3 double play. Gyorko was originally called out. However, the call was overturned and Gyorko was awarded first base.
Video: SEA@SD: Gyorko ruled safe after overturned call
SERVING IT UP
When Kennedy allowed home runs to Zunino and Miller, it marked the 16th and 17th home runs he's allowed this season -- the most on the staff and one ahead of James Shields, who gets the start Wednesday. Kennedy is now tied for fifth in the Major Leagues in the most home runs allowed this season.
"You've got to be pretty perfect when a guy [Montgomery] takes a no-hitter into the seventh," Kennedy said.
Video: SEA@SD: Zunino smacks solo homer to left-center field
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners: Right-hander Taijuan Walker (6-6, 4.64 ERA) closes out the two-game Interleague series on Wednesday for Seattle in a 12:40 p.m. PT game at Petco Park. Walker has turned his season around in impressive fashion and is 5-1 with a 1.91 ERA over his last six starts and has gone three straight games without a walk.
Padres: Shields (7-2, 4.24 ERA) gets the start in the conclusion of the brief series against the Mariners at 12:40 p.m. Shields was roughed up the last time out against the Giants, allowing a season-high seven earned runs in four-plus innings.
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