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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 11, 2009

MLB: Error by Uribe allows lone San Diego baserunner


JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Sanchez pointed to third baseman Juan Uribe and signaled that all was well. No hard feelings, let it go.

Uribe's error on a grounder by Chase Headley in the eighth inning Friday night wound up giving the San Diego Padres their only baserunner in Sanchez's unlikely no-hitter in an 8-0 victory.

"He pitched good. I didn't feel good because I didn't make the play," Uribe said Saturday, noting the ball hit the heel of his hand. "Everybody could see the groundball. I wanted to do something. Everybody said to me, 'It's OK, Uribe.'"

Uribe thought about the play over and over again once back home.

While Uribe spent his time before Saturday's game turning his focus to a heated game of dominoes with several teammates, Sanchez was still on a high from his historic night. And he had no plans of scheduling a sit down with Uribe — saying there was no reason to do so.

"I don't need to. That's part of the game," Sanchez said. "I know he didn't want to do it. He didn't want to miss the ball, but things happen and that's part of the game. He makes great plays. He's a good player and he's been playing the infield good. I have nothing against him."

Uribe had moved late in the game from second to third when Pablo Sandoval's sore back forced San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy to make a change.

"He's a pro," Bochy said Saturday of Uribe. "Sure, he felt bad, but he knows it goes with the game. You're going to make errors. Nobody gives you a better effort than Juan Uribe."

It was Uribe's fifth error of the season and third at third base. He was quick to make his exit afterward, a usual practice for the veteran infielder.

When approached for the first time Saturday, Uribe said, "Later, later." Approached again following batting practice, Uribe jumped up from his game of dominoes and scurried through the clubhouse, saying, "I got a meeting, hitter's meeting."

Then he re-emerged and talked about the miscue for the first time.

"I told him, 'I want to make a play,'" Uribe said of his conversations with Sanchez. "He's happy. It's a new day. I can change. I'm going to make the play today."

There have been 15 perfect games in major league history, including Don Larsen's gem in the 1956 World Series. Giants left-hander Randy Johnson tossed the most recent perfecto on May 18, 2004, for Arizona at Atlanta — and Sanchez was pitching in his place after the Big Unit went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.

Sanchez struck out the side in the seventh and Adrian Gonzalez hit a long drive to left in the eighth before Headley's grounder to Uribe, who offensively finished with three hits and an RBI.

"He did everything to make that play," infielder Rich Aurilia said. "You have to remember he just moved over from second, where he'd been the last three weeks. That's not an easy hop. I know, I've played the position. Just think, he was one in-between hop away from a perfect game. We still saw something special tonight. Juan will contribute in the second half."

AP Freelance Writer Rick Eymer contributed to this report.