Gardner knows Hill’s pain

PHOENIX — It hurts now, but Dodgers starter Rich Hill soon will understand that a player can achieve more fame by just missing history than making it, as Giants bullpen coach Mark Gardner knows.

Major League Baseball has sanctioned 283 single-pitcher no-hitters. Hill and Gardner are among 12 others who pitched nine no-hit innings but aren’t credited with a no-hitter because they allowed a hit in extra innings.

Hill lost his no-hitter, shutout and the game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night when

Josh Harrison homered on Hill’s fourth pitch of the 10th inning to end a 1-0 game.

Sanctioned no-hitter or not, Hill’s feat will be remembered, more so than many actual no-hitters. Every time something like this happens, Gardner gets mentioned.

“From the Hall of Fame, you still get credit for throwing nine innings of no-hit ball,” Gardner said. “The last time I checked, there was a picture of me up in the no-hitter section. They took a ball and a hat, so I would imagine Hill will probably do the same.”

Gardner had a much more frustrating end to his no-hitter at Dodger Stadium on July 26, 1991. Pitching for Montreal, Gardner allowed a leadoff infield single in the 10th that

Lenny Harris chopped over his head but in front of shortstop Spike Owen. Gardner was removed after Eddie

Murray singled and took the loss when Darryl Strawberry singled home the game’s lone run against Jeff Fassero.

“I know what he’s feeling,” Gardner said. “You get to that point in the game where you think it might happen, and it’s 0-0, and you realize if you’re on the road, if you go out there for the 10th, you have to go out for the 11th, too.

“It’s definitely frustrating. It was a heck of a feat for (Hill), a heck of a game.”

That 1991 weekend in L.A. became truly historic when Expos pitcher Dennis Martinez pitched a perfect game in the Sunday finale. Gardner smiled and said, “We threw two no-hitters and lost two of three in the series.”

Posey plan: Manager Bruce

Bochy said Buster Posey, who played first base, will do so again Sunday, partly to give Posey a physical break but also to counter Sunday’s Arizona starter, lefty Patrick Corbin. Diamondbacks pitchers have allowed a majors-low .656 OPS to left-handed hitters.