Padres Stay in First--Barely

LaMarr Hoyt, still overheated even after a cold shower, was seeking added relief from a locker room air vent when his manager, Dick Williams, called out to him.

“LaMarr, you comin’ to the All-Star Game if you’re not the starter?”

Hoyt, in an exquisite mood after he and Goose Gossage had combined on a three-hit, 2-0 victory over St. Louis that maintained the Padres half-game lead over the Dodgers, shook his fist and in his best rah-rah voice said: “I’ll be there.”

And the Padres are in first place today, but for about five fragile hours San Diego fans saw the Dodgers move into the National League West lead by percentage points with a 7-4 win over the Cubs.

Again, it was the Padre pitching that sustained San Diego’s lead since late April.

It also was pitching, particularly that of the Cardinals’ losing pitcher Joaquin Andujar, that was the center of controversy surrounding the upcoming All-Star Game.

Andujar, who is perhaps too proud for his own good, said: “I no go.”

And, apparently, it’s all Dick Williams’ fault. Isn’t everything?

Williams had proclaimed after Thursday’s night’s game that the Andujar-Hoyt matchup could decide who’d start next week’s All-Star Game, and when Andujar read all about it in Friday’s papers, he threw down the article and said: “How do you like that (manure)?”

At that point, he grabbed a local sportscaster and said: “I give scoop. I no go to All-Star Game if I not start.”

This was all going on before Friday night’s game, which was of major importance to the Padres because they’d lost three straight and held just a half-game lead on the surging Dodgers. Someone told Williams of what Andujar had said, and Williams wouldn’t believe it.

“I don’t care,” he had said. “I’ll call (National League president) Chub Feeney and he’ll choose another.”

Privately, Williams thought Andujar, who is considered to be an eccentric, might be using the All-Star Game controversy as a ploy to get himself fired up to pitch. Andujar, however, was completely serious, certain that his statistics (15-4, 2.37 ERA) were superior to anyone else’s.

Still, Hoyt, who has won 10 straight games, pitched a two-hitter in seven innings.

“My best stuff of the year,” he said. “I threw four pitches, and they were all working well, anytime I wanted them to.”

Tim Flannery (in the third) and Graig Nettles (in the eighth) each had RBI singles, and Gossage replaced a hot and tired Hoyt in the eighth. He gave up a hit and a walk but earned his 18th save.

Afterward, Williams came into the clubhouse, and motioned for the media to wait. “I have to see my starting pitcher,” he said. “Where is he?”

He walked over to Hoyt’s locker.

Over in the Cardinal clubhouse, Andujar sat slumped in his chair.

“I say no before the game,” he said, “and I say no right now and no tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day. N-O.”

Apparently, he wasn’t going.

But even if Williams named him as the starter anyway?

“I still say no,” he said. “After he talk all that stuff in the paper? If he makes his decision, he should no go back. If make a decision, keep it. Be a man. I’ll go home and barbecue with my family and friends.”

He turned to locker room neighbor, Ivan DeJesus.

“We’ll barbecue, man,” Andujar said.

He carried on.

“Our traveling secretary has my airline ticket,” Andujar said. “It’s in his office. I am not leaving here for it. After I read that (manure), I’m not going. He’s a man. I’m a man, too. He treated me like a piece of (manure), and I’m not. No one should hem on me starting the all-star game.”

Let’s check the stats. Andujar is first in wins (15-4), fourth in innings pitched (151 innings), sixth in ERA (2.37) and second in complete games (nine). Hoyt is 12-4, with a 3.00 ERA, has pitched 138 innings and has eight complete games.

“The Dominican People are very proud people,” Hoyt said of Andujar. “He’s not a dummy. He’s had as good a first half as anybody. I’m sure he feels he should start, and if so, you’ve got to respect that. It’s him making the decision not to got. You’ve got to respect that. He’ll be depriving the American people from seeing one of the best pitchers around.”

Hoyt had said recently that he wouldn’t have minded the all-star break vacation, and it’s really no big deal to him that he starts. The final decision, however, is Williams’.

Williams said “It’s comical. It really is.” But when told that Andujar wouldn’t start now even if Williams asked him to, he said: “Tell him he doesn’t have to worry about that. . . . Someone told me about this before the game, and I said: ‘I sure hope they don’t cancel the All-Star contest.”

And, lost in the scuffle, naturally, was Friday night’s game, which had added importance considering the way the Padres were playing recently. Apparently, this is why they called Hoyt a “stopper.”

Vince Coleman and Willie McGee, who had terrorized the Padres Thursday night, were a combined 0 for 8. They both struck out in the ninth against Gossage.

And only two balls were hit real hard off of Hoyt, both down the first base line. But Steve Garvey made a backhanded stab to his right on the first one and a diving catch to his left on the second one. That was that.

Garvey, who will start in the All-Star Game, said of Andujar’s decision: “To be chosen to the All-Star Game is the ultimate honor. In turn, it’s the prerogative of the player. But if he doesn’t go, it opens up the slot for someone who does want to go.”

Williams rattled off possible names. Dave Dravecky (8-5). John Tudor (10-7). Danny Cox (10-4). Lee Smith (19 saves). Rick Mahler (12-7). Ron Darling (9-2).

He swears he hasn’t decided on a starter, but then winked.

“Monday, they want the starting pitcher at the All-Star press conference,” Williams said. “I know I can get one guy there.”

Padre Notes

Garry Templeton was named as an all-star reserve, becoming the sixth Padre on the squad. “I thought I had a good chance of starting the All-Star Game, but everyone’s familiar with Ozzie Smith,” he said. “I did deserve to go because my numbers were as good as anyone’s. I’d have been mad if I didn’t make it” . . . Although the Padres have talked with the Texas Rangers regarding a possible Buddy Bell trade, source say the Padres are disenchanted with Bell’s statements that he’d like to renegotiate his contract. Also, Bell is 34, which doesn’t help matters. The Rangers, though, apparently will settle for non-big league roster players. They’re looking for prospects. . . . Tony Gwynn was replaced by Bobby Brown in the starting lineup, because his left wrist still is sore. Gwynn, an All-Star, will undergo a bone scan when he returns to San Diego next week.