Last Hurrah for Padre ‘Seniors’ Ends in Win Over the Dodgers, 3-2

A 3-2 loss to the Padres Wednesday night at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium left the Dodgers alone in last place in the National League West.

Meanwhile, for the Padres, who have had a disappointing season of their own despite going 12-6 against the Dodgers, it was a night filled with emotion.

The game, before 11,945 fans, might have been a last hurrah for the heroes of the Padres’ 1984 National League championship team.

Remember how the seniors in high school would get the honor of starting the final home game of the season? Well, four Padre seniors--as in veterans--were in that position Wednesday.

Padre Manager Steve Boros started catcher Terry Kennedy, third baseman Graig Nettles, first baseman Steve Garvey and shortstop Garry Templeton. All have had subpar seasons and have been benched in favor of younger players since mid-September.

Kennedy had a two-run single, and Nettles drove him in with a double in the Padres’ three-run first inning against Dodger starter and loser Brian Holton.

“It’s appropriate that T.K. gets a two-run single and Graig drives him in,” Boros said. “It’s a nice way to perhaps see some of the guys bow out. It’s not etched in granite, but let’s face it, there’s that strong possibility.

“I was hoping they (Kennedy and Nettles) would hit triples in the late innings so I could replace them with pinch-runners and they could get the accolades from the fans that they deserve.

“We can’t forget the contribution players like Terry Kennedy and Graig Nettles have made to this organization. And I don’t want this to sound like an epitaph on their tombstones.”

But . . .

“This will be my last game in a white uni,” Kennedy said. “No doubt about that.”

When asked if thought this would be his last home game as a Padre, Nettles said: “I haven’t thought about it much. That’s not for me to decide.”

Dodger Steve Sax’s average remained at .331 after he went 1 for 3, with a walk. Padre Tony Gwynn, who was moved to the leadoff spot Wednesday night for the first time this season, went 2 for 4 and picked up one point to raise his average to .329. Gwynn has 207 hits and Sax 206.

Both are trying to catch the Montreal Expos’ Tim Raines, who leads the National League in batting with a .335 average.

Raines sat out the Expos’ game against the New York Mets Wednesday because he reportedly has a pulled chest muscle.

Dodger Notes The Dodgers scored their two runs off Padre starter and winner Jimmy Jones on a two-run homer to right field by Franklin Stubbs in the fourth inning. It was Stubbs’ 23rd homer of the season. . . . Brian Holton (2-3) was struck on the right wrist by a shot off the bat of John Kruk in the third inning. Holton left the game, having allowed four hits and three runs in 2 innings. The wrist will be X-rayed today. . . . Goose Gossage made his first appearance since rejoining the Padres after being suspended for three weeks. Gossage pitched the eighth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one.

NATIONAL LEAGUE BATTING RACE

TIM RAINES, Montreal

Wednesday Season AB R H G AB R H Avg DID NOT PLAY 149 573 90 192 .335

STEVE SAX, Dodgers

Wednesday Season AB R H G AB R H Avg 3 1 1 154 623 89 206 .331

TONY GWYNN, San Diego

Wednesday Season AB R H G AB R H Avg 4 1 2 157 629 104 207 .329