PHOENIX - Clayton Richard was hoping to finish what he started. Instead he fell one out short, and settled for watching a veteran earn his first career save.
Richard pitched 8 2/3 solid innings and the San Diego Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Monday night.
"He was smelling the finish line," said Padres manager Bud Black, whose club has won three straight and four of five.
Replied Richard, "I smelled it but I couldn't reach it. I really wanted to finish that one out but wasn't able to do it."
Richard allowed consecutive two-out, ninth-inning hits to Ryan Roberts and Gerardo Parra before giving way to veteran left-hander Joe Thatcher.
With All-Star closer Huston Street unavailable, Thatcher struck out pinch-hitter Jason Kubel for his first career save in his 213th appearance over seven seasons.
"I knew it depended on a lefty or righty coming up and when I saw Kubel on deck I thought it might be me," Thatcher said. "Clayton pitched such a good game so I wanted get this win for him."
Richard (6-8) has three career complete games but none since September 2010. As a staff, the Padres have only one.
Richard scattered eight hits, walked one and struck out two. In his last five starts, he is 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA.
The Padres also flashed some power against Trevor Cahill (6-7) and three relievers.
Cameron Maybin hit a 485-foot home run, the longest in the majors this season, Alexi Amarista hit his fourth home run in five games and Yasmani Grandal also connected for the Padres.
Grandal, recently called up from Tucson, singled for his fourth career hit, after hitting home runs for each of his first three. The last player whose first three hits were homers was Keith McDonald for St. Louis in 2000 - those turned out to be the only three hits he got in the majors.
Amarista also added a two-run double and a single and finished with three RBIs.
Chris Young homered for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped three straight.
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