Padres Back Into Their Win Over Houston, 6-5

With the short-lived baseball strike over, it took a strike of another kind to get the Padres going Thursday night.

Steve Garvey was struck in the back by a throw from Houston first baseman Glenn Davis in the ninth inning, the key play in a four-run inning as the Padres beat Houston, 6-5.

What was so significant about Garvey getting hit by the throw?

Had he not been hit, Terry Kennedy may have grounded into a double play, and Houston would have won, 5-2.

Garvey said it wouldn’t have been a double-play ball, but Kennedy wasn’t so sure.

“It’s always possible with me running,” he said. “I was hoping nobody would be at the bag at first to take the throw. We haven’t had a break like this in a while.”

When the dust cleared on the play, the Padres trailed, 5-3. Garvey was at third base and pinch-runner Jerry Davis on second. Kennedy had been awarded second when pitcher Dave Smith obstructed him on the basepaths.

Then came several more key plays:

--Carmelo Martinez hit a two-run single to center, tying the game, 5-5.

--Bobby Brown ran for Martinez. He stole second and went to third on catcher Mark Bailey’s throwing error.

--After Tim Flannery was walked intentionally, pinch-hitter Jerry Royster singled over the head of left fielder Jose Cruz, scoring Brown with the winning run.

However, it all might not have been possible without Garvey’s back.

“It’s going to really be swollen,” Garvey said. “It was a really good spot to get hit. There’s nothing like taking one for the team.”

Manager Dick Williams had earlier taken one for the team, getting kicked out by first base umpire Doug Harvey for arguing with rookie second base umpire Scott Grinder. Williams said the commentary of the ninth inning sounded good on radio.

The live play-by-play also looked good to the few who remained from a crowd of 19,977.

When Martinez singled to tie the game, what had been a serene crowd went crazy. Brown decided to keep the intensity level by stealing second on his own.

“We needed some excitement,” Brown said. “We don’t put any pressure on our opponents, and we’re the National League champs. That was my goal tonight. They were either going to throw me out at second, or I was going to be there. I’m not afraid of messing up.”

Brown did better than reach second. He was on third when pinch-hitter Royster appeared with one out.

“It’s a lot easier when the guy is on third base,” Royster said. “That’s why Bobby Brown’s play was such a big play. We have to string something together now. We can’t come back flat tomorrow.”

Starting pitcher LaMarr Hoyt was certainly flat for the third straight outing. He lasted 6 innings, allowing four runs on 12 hits. Hoyt has allowed 11 runs on 21 hits in 9 innings over his last two starts.

Mark Thurmond gave up one run in 1 innings of relief. When he left, Houston led, 5-1. Martinez cut the margin to three with his 14th homer of the year in the bottom of the eighth.

Craig Lefferts did not allow a run in the top of the ninth. Little did he know that he would be the winning pitcher.

Williams had not been around to see the final five-plus innings. He was kicked out in the bottom of the fourth for arguing a force play at second. Grinder contended that shortstop Craig Reynolds had the ball in his glove long enough before he dropped it, and ruled Garvey out. Williams, who argued for several minutes before veteran first base umpire Harvey ejected him, saw things differently.

“I saw the replay later on, and I’m still right,” Williams said. “I told Harvey, ‘Let’s get it right.’ I don’t care if it’s a kid ump. So Harvey runs me for saying the kid was incompetent. So I figured I should go back and tell the kid.”

So Williams went back one more time in the fourth to tell Grinder what he thought.

After the game, Williams still was not in the best of moods. His players were.

“That was a Team Padre game,” Garvey said. “We haven’t had one of those in a while. You hope something like that can start a streak.”

The Padres had lost four straight, Houston had won four straight. Thanks to Garvey’s back, the streaks are over.

Padre Notes Goose Gossage was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Gossage underwent arthroscopic surgery for torn cartilage in his right knee Aug. 1. “It’ll be another week and a half before he starts throwing, if he can throw then,” Manager Dick Williams said. “His muscle tone is back. He had soreness and bleeding when they went in (the knee).” . . . Left-handed pitcher Gene Walter has been called up from Las Vegas to take Gossage’s place on the roster. Walter was 7-5 with a 2.75 earned-run average and 12 saves at Las Vegas. . . . Kevin McReynolds did not start Thursday because of a jammed heel. He was replaced in center field by Al Bumbry. Williams said McReynolds could pinch-hit and that his availability will be determined on a day-to-day basis. . . . Garry Templeton was moved from eighth to second in the lineup Thursday. Williams is uncertain whether Templeton will remain in the second spot, but he seemed to be leaning that way for the time being. . . . Williams disagrees with the theory that the Padres have played poorly lately because the strike was hanging over their heads. “If you look at our record, we have played poorly since June 11,” he said. “From the All-Star break, we have been 6-12 (before Thursday). We’d be in last-place since the All-Star break.” . . . Tony Gwynn’s wife, Alicia, gave birth Thursday morning to a girl, Anisha Nicole. . . . Pitcher Ed Wojna was sent to Las Vegas after the game Thursday, leaving the Padre roster at 24 players. Williams said the final roster spot would be filled today. . . . Eric Show (7-7) and Dave Dravecky (8-7) will pitch against Houston’s Nolan Ryan (8-9) and Mike Scott (11-5) in a doubleheader at 5:05 p.m. today. After an off-day Saturday, Andy Hawkins (14-3) will pitch against Bob Knepper (9-9) at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.