Andrew Baggerly writes his review of Jonathan Sanchez’s no-hitter:

Sanchez had pitched his way out of the rotation. He probably pitched his way off the trade block, too. He frustrated coaches and teammates with his nonchalance. When asked about holding runners, he claimed they never taught him that in the minor leagues. He had all the talent in the world. But instead of flying high, his shoulder kept flying open.

That’s why I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing Friday night.

Sanchez stayed ahead of hitters. He didn’t overthrow. In his postgame comments, he said pitching coach Dave Righetti had him angle back his left leg while stepping, which allowed him to stay on top of the ball as he delivered it.

And he delivered. Again and again and again.

Sanchez’s breaking pitches moved impressively. Watching, I was thinking, “That’s a ball,” only to see the pitch curve back to the plate and catch a corner. The Padres saw Sanchez twice before this season. I suspect they saw enough of him to know what he throws and what pitches to lay off. Sanchez ruined their pattern recognizers last night, and they couldn’t adjust fast enough.

Baggerly wrote that he always thinks of a no-hitter when he’s filling out his scorebook. I suspect the page from last night’s game is going to be carefully preserved.