Padres Defeat Giants but It’s No Big Deal to Anyone

Not only was the crowd a season-low, but only three umpires showed up, which also was a season-low.

The Padres were not offended.

In front of just 8,888 in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, they defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-4 on Wednesday, and it was one of those rare nights when every player in the lineup earned his paycheck.

THE BIG SPRINT--This came in the first inning after Garry Templeton reached first on Bob Brenly’s error. Graig Nettles lined a hit to right, and Templeton scored all the way from first, showing us that all Padres should have aching knees. Templeton, hitting close to .280, has to be the team’s Most Valuable Player and the league’s top shortstop, if anyone’s been watching.

“I just let it (the publicity) take care of itself,” Templeton said. “If they don’t recognize me, it’s cool with me. Maybe one day they will.”

THE BIG SPRINT II--This came in the third inning, when pitcher LaMarr Hoyt actually made it to first base. Not that he wanted to be there. But he hit a ground ball to Giant shortstop Jose Uribe, who fielded it but threw high to first baseman Dan Driessen. Still, Hoyt, who always looks like he’s running into a strong wind even when it’s calm outside, beat Driessen to the bag somehow.

He looked angry, since he’d rather just concentrate on pitching. Tough luck.

THE BIG SPRINT III--This also came in the third inning, when Hoyt scored the Padres’ second run on Steve Garvey’s single to left. Outfielder Jeff Leonard unfortunately made a poor throw, or we would’ve seen Hoyt slide for the first time all year. Tough luck.

THE BIG CHILL--This came before the game when umpire Dave Pallone called in sick. He said he had the flu.

THE BIG CATCH--This came in the second inning when Giant starter Roger Mason checked his swing and looped a ball over the infield. Nettles had no play, but Templeton (bad knees, huh?) dove to his right, snagged it, jumped up and was given a standing ovation.

“Like I’ve always said, I should’ve been an outfielder instead of a shortstop,” Templeton said.

THE BIG DRIVE--This came in the fifth inning after Templeton had singled to left. Gwynn, who finally has lifted his batting average to .310, tripled to right-center. Center fielder Dan Gladden let it roll to the fence, and right fielder Rob Deer tried picking it up with his glove rather than with his bare hand. Tough luck. Later, Garvey contributed, singling in Gwynn. Later, Terry Kennedy contributed a single.

THE BIG CATCH II--This came in the sixth inning when Giant outfielder Rob Deer, one of the Giants’ power hitters, blasted a ball to left. Carmelo Martinez leaped up (although it’s not clear how high), reached over the fence and caught it.

“Did you see how high I got off the ground?” Martinez said. “A good two and a half feet?”

Tony Gwynn, eavesdropping, said: “More like this (he held two fingers an inch apart).”

Martinez said: “All I’ll say was that it was an out.”

THE BIG STREAK--Martinez has reached base 27 of his last 42 at-bats, including twice more Wednesday.

“If I could steal bases, it’d be great,” Martinez said.

THE BIG INNING--This came in the seventh when the Padres scored three runs, extending a 4-2 lead to 7-2. Kevin McReynolds and Tim Flannery, the only other Padres who hadn’t done anything, did something. McReynolds’ sacrifice fly scored a run, and Flannery had an RBI single.

THE BIG SPRINT IV--This came in the ninth inning when Manager Dick Williams brought in Craig Lefferts to pitch the ninth. Lefferts, as is his routine, sprinted in from the bullpen, and his good deed of the day was getting the Giants back in the ballgame while also getting the fans into the game.

Jeff Leonard hit his first pitch for a home run.

Later, after two walks, Jose Uribe hit an run-scoring double.

THE BIG GUY--This came after Uribe’s RBI when Williams brought in Goose Gossage to replace Lefferts. He immediately struck out pinch-hitter Chris Brown to end the inning and eventually picked up his 25th save.

THE BIG CHILL II--This came after the game when Williams, like the umpire Pallone, had a head cold.

BIG DEAL--Nobody cared about this meaningless game, based on such a large turnout.