How Did the Padres Lose That Big Lead? Who Lost It? Why?

Steve Boros had an answer for every question Sunday afternoon, but even his answers were questionable.

The Padres had just blown a five-run lead in losing to Philadelphia, 6-5, which brought up enough questions.

In the process, Boros made it a second-guesser’s delight:

--Why did pitcher Andy Hawkins bat in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and two out?

--Why did Goose Gossage pitch the ninth after Lance McCullers had pitched 2 shutout innings?

Boros had the answers after his strategy backfired.

In Hawkins’ case, he had allowed three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth after having a 5-0 lead. The fans booed when Hawkins came to bat and booed even more after he hit into a fielder’s choice.

“When (Hawkins) got out of the fifth, he had only thrown 60-some pitches,” Boros said. “Only one ball was hit hard in the fifth. Andy gets us into the eighth or ninth inning a lot of times. I just figured we’d get more than five innings from Andy. I can’t make decisions based on what the mood of the crowd is.”

Spectators weren’t the only ones surprised when Hawkins batted.

“It (being hit for) crossed my mind,” Hawkins said. “The pitcher doesn’t get to hit too many times with the bases loaded, two out and a one-run lead. (Boros) wasn’t going to make the move, so I had to do the best I could.”

Two outs into the sixth, Hawkins was removed after walking Ronn Reynolds. He had walked Mike Schmidt earlier in the inning. In retrospect, it magnified the fact Hawkins was allowed to bat in the bottom of the fifth.

“The two walks were not a good indication,” Boros said. “When he’s pitching well, he doesn’t walk people.”

After Hawkins was removed, McCullers pitched 2 innings of three-hit ball. But with one out and nobody on in the eighth, Marvell Wynne batted for McCullers and grounded out.

Why was McCullers removed?

“We always try to limit Lance and (Craig) Lefferts to under three innings so they will be available the next day,” Boros said.

That was news to McCullers.

“I didn’t know he was going to limit me to two or three innings,” McCullers said. “He never told me that. I don’t want to get into it, (but) I think I should’ve finished the game. It’s (Boros’) decision to make.”

Boros decided to try Gossage in the ninth. Once again, the strategy went haywire.

Steve Jeltz led off the ninth with a single, and then Ron Roenicke walked. After a Jeff Stone sacrifice, left-hander Milt Thompson blooped a single to left, scoring Jeltz and Roenicke.

The day before, Gossage was unable to hold a one-run lead in the ninth as the result of a bloop single, stolen base and error.

What does Boros think of Gossage now?

“I’m not ready to give up on the guy,” Boros said.

Gossage, who often talks of not getting too high or low, gave up on that cliche for a day.

“The mistakes I made were the walk and giving up a hit,” Gossage said. “You paint yourself into a corner. It seems like one pitch has killed me all year. The situations I come into are situations where one pitch will kill you. When you’re horse (bleep) and things are going bad, this happens. You can’t really put into words how frustrating it is.”

The Padres had been through a week of turmoil between the players and club president Ballard Smith. That appeared to be put aside on the field when the Padres won four of the first five games this home stand.

However, Sunday’s game revived memories of what the overall season has been like.

“I don’t think we’ve lost spirit,” Boros said. “It’s just tough to take when you have a win and lose in the ninth.”