The only planned marathon close to happening in San Diego is to take place on Monday, finishing near Petco Park, but on Friday night and into Saturday morning, an unplanned marathon took place between the Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays. It took 17 innings, but the Padres pulled it out and beat the Blue Jays, 4-3.

Padres starter Jason Marquis could have been sharper, giving up three runs on a pair of home runs in the 2nd and 4th innings, but that’s hardly worth discussing. Jedd Gyorko tied the game in the 5th inning, driving in two runs with a double to the wall, then taking third on the throw to the plate, and then scoring when the ball was thrown away trying to get Gyorko taking third base. Again, hardly worth mentioning.

Both teams used eight pitchers each as the extra innings mounted. And they mounted. There was a second seventh inning stretch in the middle of the fourteenth inning. Both clubs pretty much ran out of players to substitute and to pinch-hit.

The Padres had other concerns as well. In the seventh inning, Yonder Alonso was hit by a pitch on the right hand. He was subsequently lifted from the game with a right hand contusion, which is fancy-speak for a bruised right hand.

Yonder says the “hand is ok”, while manager Buddy Black reserved comment on the injury, stating post-game that he would be checking into it. X-rays were taken and there appeared to be no break or other damage from what the film showed.

The other concern, murmured throughout the press box, was the absence of closer Huston Street among the parade of relief pitchers. After the game, Buddy indicated that Huston wasn’t available due to a calf issue.

Clayton Richard came to the rescue. Richard was scheduled to start in Saturday’s game, but came out in relief in the top of the sixteenth inning, and pitched very well.

But Clayton’s bat performed the most important task of the evening. After Jedd Gyorko singled with one out in the bottom of the seventeenth inning, Richard laid down an excellent bunt that got Gyorko to second base. Jesus Guzman then singled up the middle to score Gyorko, and the jumping up and down commenced.

And, for the second time in three days, Fox Sports San Diego sideline reporter Kelly Crull was doused with Gatorade, this time while interviewing Guzman directly after the game on the field. This time, Kelly was wizened from the first incident, when she wore a white dress; early Saturday morning, her outfit was black.

“We played to win the game,” Black said. “We took Clayton’s start tomorrow out of the equation and we decided to use him tonight. I think that’s the way you have to do it.”

Notes:

Yonder Alonso will be day-to-day until told otherwise, at least until evaluation of the hand tomorrow. With Huston Street, there wasn’t any elaboration about the calf, but it was the same one that landed Street on the disabled list for a spell last season.

Since Clayton Richard was used on Friday, the Padres will call up pitcher Robbie Erlin from AAA Tucson to make the start on Saturday. Erlin was 4-0 with a 3.79 earned run average in the minors this season. He appeared briefly with the big club a month ago, pitching in two games in mop-up roles. The corresponding move hasn’t been announced. Unless Huston Street’s injury requires a stint on the disabled list, Nick Vincent could be sent back down to AAA. Vincent pitched three scoreless innings of relief in Friday’s game.

Saturday, Erlin will face Mark Buehrle (2-3, 5.51) throwing for the Blue Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PDST, and the first 25,000 fans in attendance will receive a Padres replica jersey and a pet bandana. Tune in via radio 1090 AM or a television that carries Fox Sports San Diego if you’re not into replica jerseys or pet bandanas.