SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Sanchez, an unlikely candidate, pitched the majors' first no-hitter this season Friday night, dominating the San Diego Padres with an array of pitches in the San Francisco Giants' 8-0 victory.

The 26-year-old left-hander returned to the rotation after a nearly three-week demotion to the bullpen — and he only got the call because 303-game winner Randy Johnson went on the disabled list earlier this week with a shoulder injury.

Gold Glove center fielder Aaron Rowand saved the no-hitter with a leaping catch at the center-field fence to rob pinch-hitter Edgar Gonzalez for the second out of the ninth inning. Sanchez nearly tossed a perfect game — the only runner the Padres managed came on an error by third baseman Juan Uribe in the eighth. Sanchez threw the Giants' 13th no-hitter and first since John Montefusco did it on Sept. 29, 1976, at Atlanta.

REDS 3, METS 0: At New York, Bronson Arroyo threw a four-hitter for his second career shutout and Joey Votto and Laynce Nix homered as Cincinnati blanked the Mets, who lost for the sixth time in seven games and 11th in 14. Arroyo (9-8) had been 1-5 in seven outings since May.

PHILLIES 3, PIRATES 2: At Philadelphia, Joe Blanton pitched into the eighth inning and Philadelphia's Jayson Werth drove in two runs on the day he was named to his first All-Star team. Blanton (6-4) allowed one run and four hits over 7 1/3 innings.

CARDINALS 8, CUBS 3: At Chicago, Albert Pujols hit his 32nd homer and Ryan Ludwick drove in four runs for St. Louis. Pujols had two RBIs to reach 85 and hit his first triple of the season. Chris Carpenter (7-3) worked six innings, allowing seven hits and three runs with six strikeouts.

DIAMONDBACKS 8, MARLINS 0: At Phoenix, All-Star Dan Haren threw his second career shutout and Felipe Lopez hit a three-run homer for Arizona. Haren (9-5) threw a four-hitter for his third complete game of the season and ninth of his career.