Perez, Reds Defeat Padres; Gwynn 3rd in NL Batting Race

Tony Perez’s 379th home run of his career helped Cincinnati overcome a grand slam by Kevin McReynolds and defeat the Padres, 10-7, on Saturday.

Perez’s homer tied Orlando Cepeda’s mark for most homers by a Latin American player.

Meanwhile, San Diego’s Tony Gwynn--who started the game with a .330 average, second in the National League behind Montreal’s Tim Raines at .335--singled in his first at-bat but finished 1 for 4 to remain at .330. The hit was Gwynn’s 210th of the season. Gwynn falls to third place behind Dodger Steve Sax, who collected two hits Saturday against San Francisco to improve to .332. Raines went 2 for 7 in 14 innings against Philadelphia Saturday to lower his average to .334.

Perez, 44, will retire after the Reds’ final game today and the Cuban had aimed for at least a share of Cepeda’s milestone.

“If I end up tied with Cepeda, it will be all right,” Perez said.

Red General Manager Bill Bergesch presented Perez with two bottles of champagne, which he poured into paper cups for a celebration with teammates.

Perez came into the season needing two homers to tie Cepeda, and waited until the second-to-the-last game to end the anticipation.

“How long has this been on ice?” Perez asked when handed the champagne.

Perez’s homer put the Reds ahead, 5-4, in the third inning, but the Padres tied it an inning later. Barry Larkin singled home the eventual winning run, one of his four RBIs, and the Reds scored two runs in the eighth and ninth innings to ensure their fourth consecutive victory.

“We couldn’t stop ‘em, could we?” said Padre Manager Steve Boros, who used six pitchers.

Dave Parker and Eric Davis also hit homers for Cincinnati, but Perez’s drew the loudest ovation from the crowd of 12,654 that called the first baseman back onto the field for a bow before letting the game continue.

The homer also provided Perez with career RBI No. 1,652, leaving him 14th on the all-time list.

Bill Gullickson (15-12) struggled through 6 innings to become the Reds’ first 15-game winner. He allowed seven hits, two walks and five runs, failing to hold a 3-0 lead after the second inning.

The Reds built their early lead against Ed Whitson, who is 1-7 since rejoining the Padres in a trade with the New York Yankees July 9 and who has failed to win a game since July 30.

“I just think he needs a fresh start,” Boros said. “He’s had such an awful year, both on and off the field.”

Gullickson drove in Cincinnati’s first run with a second-inning ground out, and Larkin tripled home two more with two out.

Singles by Whitson and John Kruk and a walk to Gwynn preceded McReynolds’ 26th homer and first career grand slam in the third for a 4-3 Padre lead.

Parker led off the bottom of the third with his 31st homer and Perez hit his homer one out later for a 5-4 advantage, chasing Whitson.

After Jerry Royster hit into a fielder’s choice to tie the game again in the fourth, Larkin singled home a go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning off reliever Dave LaPoint (1-4). Eric Davis added a two-run homer, his 27th, in the seventh off Goose Gossage.

John Franco came in to get the last out and earn his 29th save.