Worn-Out Padres Are Beaten, 6-3

Tony Gwynn is finally giving in--a little.

After the Padres’ 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Sunday, Gwynn said he is ready for a rest, even if he is in the midst of a race for his second National League batting title.

“I’ve got to take a couple days off and relax a little,” said Gwynn, who will rest today and Tuesday against the Dodgers.

With 14 home runs, 59 runs batted in, 35 stolen bases and 16 assists from right field, Gwynn is having his best all-round year. He scored his 100th run Friday night, making him only the third player in Padre history to do so.

But Gwynn said he is mentally tired after playing in all but one of the Padres’ 156 games this season.

Gwynn went hitless Sunday in three at-bats, dropping his average to .329, and he was caught stealing second after 14 consecutive successful attempts. After walking in the first, Gwynn bounced to the pitcher, struck out and grounded weakly to first.

“I’ve been trying to do too much and I think it shows,” Gwynn said. “I’ve been swinging at bad pitches, not staying back. I’ve gotten six hits in my last 30 at bats, and I haven’t seen a Mike Scott or anybody in those 30 at-bats. The time has come to take it (a rest) and I’ve got to take it.”

Gwynn said he was a bit relieved to see Tim Raines widen his lead in the batting race by lifting his average to .337. He said he wouldn’t rest if he were still within a point or two of the lead. But Gwynn said he intends to return to the lineup by Wednesday, slightly fresher and ready to challenge Raines during the season’s final four games.

Gwynn wasn’t the only Padre who looked weary Sunday as Cincinnati pitcher Ted Power breezed with a four-hitter until Carmelo Martinez hit a two-run homer in the eighth. Power improved his record to 9-6 and Ron Robinson gained his 14th save.

Padre starter Ed Vosberg lasted only into the second inning, allowing four runs on five hits as he lost his second game since being called up from Las Vegas.

Vosberg gave up a solo home run to Dave Concepcion in the first, Concepcion’s 100th career homer.

In the second, with two out and Nick Esasky on first, Vosberg gave up a run-scoring double to Power. Kurt Stillwell singled, scoring Power, and Concepcion followed with another single, sending Stillwell to third.

Manager Steve Boros then replaced Vosberg with LaMarr Hoyt. With Eric Davis up, Concepcion broke for second. Bip Roberts moved in front of second base for the throw from catcher Mark Parent, but Roberts’ return throw was too late to get Stillwell, who stole home on the double steal to make it 4-0.

Cincinnati added a run in the fifth, and the Reds used their speed and the Padres’ poor defense to produce another run in the seventh. After Eric Davis singled, he stole second and the throw went into shallow center field. Davis got up and never stopped running, scoring standing up to beat the throw from Kevin McReynolds.

The Padres scored their first run in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk to Terry Kennedy, who was batting for Roberts.