Confidence is a powerful tool. Last night, against an Atlanta Braves team that was eleven games over .500 heading into the contest, the San Diego Padres exploded for eleven runs and rode yet another quality Clayton Richard start to their seventh win in eight games (6-1 in the Phil Hughes era).
The Friars’ veteran left-hander threw seven innings and got his fourth victory of the season last night, allowing three earned runs on six hits, striking out five and walking two.
After retiring the Braves in order in the first, working around a hit-by-pitch in the second and a walk in the third, Clayton Richard finally allowed his first hit in the fourth inning on a Nick Markakis single.