Lyles comes within 5 outs of Padres’ first no-hitter

SAN DIEGO — After 7,858 games, the San Diego Padres are still waiting for their first no-hitter.

Jordan Lyles was the latest to give the long-suffering fans hope that it could finally happen. After he retired his 22nd consecutive batter by striking out Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies to open the eighth inning Tuesday, the crowd of 19,598 at Petco Park got loud.

But then Trevor Story swatted an 0-1 pitch into left field for a single, leaving Lyles five outs shy of the first no-hitter game in Padres history. The Padres won 4-0 against the Rockies, Lyle’s old team.

The Padres are the only major league team without a no-hitter. While the right-hander’s effort was brilliant, it’s now on the list of close calls that goes back to July 21, 1970, when Manager Preston Gomez lifted Clay Kirby after eight no-hit innings against the New York Mets.

Asked if there as a protocol for how players react in the dugout during a no-no bid, Manager Andy Green said: “We don’t really know. We’ve never had one.

“I’d love to see it,” Green said. “Honestly, in those moments, I’m just like everyone else. We want to see something special. We did see something very special today, but we were looking for five more outs.”

Story’s single landed just in front of left fielder Franchy Cordero.

Story hit a slider that was down and away. “I just saw a replay on TV. It was a good pitch, exactly where I would throw it again,” Lyles said.

Lyles then walked Pat Valaika and made way for Kirby Yates after 85 pitches. Lyles matched his career high with 10 strikeouts. The Rockies hit only two balls out of the infield

before Story singled.

This was the second-closest a Padres pitcher came to perfection. Chris Young lost a perfect game bid when he gave up a home run to Gabe Kapler with two outs in the eighth at Milwaukee on Sept. 7, 2008.