Padres Are Beaten by Two Firsts : Brave Pitchers Get First Win and Save in the Majors, 3-2

Two career minor leaguers gave the Padres major problems Tuesday night, as San Diego lost again to the last place Atlanta Braves, 3-2.

The winning pitcher was 29-year-old rookie Cliff Speck, a last-minute starter for the injured Zane Smith. Speck had a promising career when drafted No. 1 in 1974 by the New York Mets, but spent 13 years in the minors until this season. Players such as Rick Sutcliffe, Willie Wilson, Lonnie Smith, Garry Templeton, Lance Parish and Dale Murphy also had been drafted No. 1 in 1974 and they all fared pretty well.

And then there’s Cliff Speck, whose 30th birthday is Friday.

“You always wonder if you’ll make it,” Speck said. “Some guys get here (to the majors) after a couple of years, but after 13 years, you’re wondering, ‘Am I ever gonna get a break?’ ”

Smith’s middle finger made it impossible for him to throw a fastball, so Speck got his break at 7 Tuesday. Manager Chuck Tanner told him to warm up. The game started at 7:05.

But he went out and threw 5 innings of five-hit ball in his first major league start, yielding just one run--Templeton’s ground out to second in the sixth that scored Steve Garvey.

Speck was replaced by 28-year-old rookie Ed Olwine, who got his first major league save. Olwine languished in the minors for seven seasons, but got his chance with the Braves when Bruce Sutter was injured. Before Tuesday, his claim to fame was that his in-laws lived next door to the Kennedy family in Hyannis Port, Mass.

Olwine retired the first nine men he faced in relief Tuesday before giving up a ninth-inning two-out homer to pinch-hitter Carmelo Martinez. The crowd of 14,650 got a little crazy, but pinch-hitter Terry Kennedy grounded out to first to end it.

Martinez’ homer was only his sixth of the year, and he had led the team in homers last year with 21. After he hit this one, the crowd chanted: “Carmelo . . . Carmelo!”

Manager Steve Boros said: “I heard people yelling for him, but I have a strong suspicion those were the same people booing him a month ago.”

Martinez: “Good pitch to hit, man.”

Boros tried making a pitch for the quality of his team, but it was hard to to do. San Diego has scored three runs in two nights against the Braves, and Atlanta’s starters were Jim Acker and Speck.

“We just didn’t get enough runs,” Boros said. “It’s something you’ve heard before. . . . It’s a shame to see all our pitching performances slip away from us.”

Ed Whitson, making his fifth start for the Padres this year, went six innings and gave up just two runs. Craig Lefferts gave up one run in relief.

The Padres have lost four of five and came into the game 7 1/2 games out of first.

Something’s wrong when Cliff Speck beats you.

“I think it’s our level of intensity,” pitcher Andy Hawkins said. “We’re out there busting our (rear ends), but subconsciously, we’re not giving everything we have.”

Speck had an advantage in that the Padres had never heard of him and certainly had no clue what he threw.

“I’m sure guys say it’s tough to hit when you haven’t seen a pitcher, but it’s the same for him,” catcher Bruce Bochy said.

Tony Gwynn: “It’s a disadvantage for us. A real big disadvantage. . . . Here’s a guy we hadn’t even heard of.”

Speck--who grew up in Portland, Ore.--played American Legion baseball with current teammate Dale Murphy and even played against Murphy in high school. He had so many injuries that held up his progress. Once, when he was with the Mets, he had just won a minor league game to make his record 5-0. A man came up to congratulate him and shook his hand. But he shook Speck’s hand much too hard, jerking the arm out of whack. He ended the season with a 5-7 record.

“After 13 years, it’s kind of nice to have your first start and first win in the same day,” Speck said. “It’s sweet. I don’t know how you’re supposed to act. If you’re supposed to act happy, then I guess I am.”

Padre Notes Pitcher Eric Show threw on the side again Tuesday, and--this time--the elbow felt like a million bucks. “Best it’s felt in a month,” Show said. “I feel like I’ll be able to give them six innings or so, and that’s all they want.” Show still is working out of the bullpen, however. . . . Former Padre Mark Thurmond is now a regular in the Detroit bullpen. In his last four appearances, he has thrown 6 shutout innings and hasn’t yielded an earned run. He won Tuesday night’s game in relief. “It’s really exciting to help out in a win,” Thurmond told the Detroit Free-Press. “People think the West Coast is a great place, but I really like it here. I’m from Texas, and this reminds me of there.” Thurmond also disclosed that he had a hip problem dating back to 1983. “I had a sciatic nerve problem in my hip,” he said. “I’ve had it since ’83. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I thought it might be my hamstring.”

Tony Gwynn extended his hitting streak to 13 games Tuesday, but he isn’t the slightest bit impressed with himself. “I’ve hit in 12 (now 13) straight, but I’m batting about .250 during that streak. I just haven’t hit worth a nickel. And it’s frustrating to me because I know I’m better. It’s just like this club. The way we’re playing is frustrating to us, because we know we’re better.”

And here’s Gwynn on the pennant race: “It’s never too late. Usually, you hear what I just said from guys and from teams that are scuffling. And we are. We’re scuffling. But it’s just not too late. . . . We know time is running out, and we got to get something going. And there are certain guys on this club who’ve got to produce for this club to do well. And I feel like I’m an important cog. . . . I don’t mean to come across like a lot of this is on my shoulders, because it isn’t, but I think I’m putting it on my shoulders.”

PADRES AT A GLANCE

Scorecard FIFTH INNING Braves--Thomas singled to center and stole second. Virgil flied to right, Thomas taking third. Hubbard singled to center, Thomas scoring. Speck sacrificed, Hubbard taking second. Moreno struck out. One run, two hits, one left.

SIXTH INNING

Braves--With one out, Murphy doubled to right-center. Horner singled to left, Murphy taking third. Griffey flied to center. Thomas singled to left, Murphy scoring, Horner taking third and Thomas taking second on throw to third. Virgil grounded to the pitcher. One run, three hits, two left.

Padres--Garvey doubled to left-center and took third on Speck’s balk. Nettles popped up to catcher. Templeton grounded to second, Garvey scoring. Wynne singled to right, stole second and took third on catcher Virgil’s throwing error. Bochy walked. Olwine replaced Speck. Kruk, batting for Whitson, flied to center. One run, two hits, one error, two left.

EIGHTH INNING

Braves--Murphy walked. Horner flied to right. Griffey singled to right, Murphy taking third. Thomas bunted down third for a single with Griffey taking second, but Murphy was out trying to get back to third. Virgil singled to right, Griffey scoring, but Thomas was out at third. One run, three hits, one left.

NINTH INNING

Padres--With two outs, Martinez homered to left, his sixth. Kennedy, batting for Flannery, grounded to first. One run, one hit.