Young Simply Too Tough for Pirates

Chris Young came within two outs of the first no-hitter in San Diego’s 38-season history before yielding pinch-hitter Joe Randa’s two-run homer in the Padres’ 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

With the crowd of 40,077 on its feet and cheering every pitch, Randa momentarily silenced Petco Park with a 421-foot shot to straightaway center field. Jose Bautista walked ahead of Randa, who finished last season with San Diego.

The crowd then gave Young (11-5) an ovation. He had to settle for a spot on the long list of close calls by Padres pitchers.

Until Randa’s shot, the closest the Pirates came to getting a hit was when Jack Wilson hit a fly ball to deep left with one out in the first inning.

The Padres, who played their 6,020th game, remain one of four teams without a no-hitter. The others are the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The victory not only kept San Diego in the West-Division lead, but it allowed the Padres (81-72) to pass St. Louis (80-72) for the second-best record in the league.

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ROUNDUP

at Houston 6, St. Louis 5: Craig Biggio’s two-out run-scoring single capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning.

at Philadelphia 5, Florida 2: Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 58th homer for the Phillies.

Washington 3, at New York 2: The Nationals opened their final road series by improving to 28-50 away from home. They have won only four of their last 16 road games.

at Cincinnati 4, Chicago 2: Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer -- one of three homers against Rich Hill -- and the Reds won the game halted because of rain after five innings.

at Colorado 6, Atlanta 4: Josh Fogg, who gave up three earned runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, made his 30th start, triggering a $50,000 contract incentive.

at Milwaukee 13, San Francisco 12: Barry Bonds hit his 733rd homer, tying Hank Aaron’s league record, and drove in a season-high six runs, but David Bell’s infield single in the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run for Milwaukee.