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.

Sanchez, who had a five-start winless stretch in which he went 0-4, carried a perfect game into the eighth inning before third baseman Juan Uribe booted a routine grounder by Chase Headley for an error.