Padres Snap Five-Game Losing Streak With Win Over Pirates

Eventually, the Padres had to score more than six runs in a game this season. Eventually, Tim Flannery had to get his 500th career hit.

And eventually, the Padres even had to win a game.

All three happened Monday night when the Padres defeated Pittsburgh, 9-5, to snap a five-game losing streak.

The game attracted 22,306 fans on half-price night in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, which was quite a bargain if fans enjoy drawn out games. It took 3 hours and 28 minutes to finish.

San Diego had a chance to make the game a rout. The Padres led, 6-1, before holding on at the end.

But who’s complaining?

When a team is 7-20, it will take any sort of victory.

The same goes for starting pitcher Storm Davis, who earned his first Padre victory in five decisions. Davis allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 innings.

Pittsburgh certainly had its opportunities, too, stranding 15 runners.

Normally, it is the Padres who suffer such a fate. But this was to be their night for a change.

Much of the credit must go to Lance McCullers, who earned his third save.

When McCullers came on in the eighth, the Padres were in trouble. They led, 9-5, but Pittsburgh had runners on first and third with no outs.

McCullers struck out Jim Morrison, got Barry Bonds to fly to shallow left and then struck out Mike Diaz.

Finally, ordered was restored to a situation that nearly had gotten out of hand for the Padres.

Overall, it was a big night for the Padre hitters. They had scored six runs in two previous games--and lost both times.

Nobody will remember this game more than Flannery, who had his memorable moment in the bottom of the sixth when he came up as a pinch-hitter.

He doubled to left center with two out, giving the Padres a 7-3 lead as Santiago scored from third. Flannery received a loud ovation from the Padre fans, who consider him a favorite son by now.

Pittsburgh cut its deficit to 7-5 on a two-run single by R.J. Reynolds off Craig Lefferts in the top of the seventh.

With runners on second and third and two outs in the seventh, Andy Van Slyke hit a liner headed toward right field. However, first baseman Carmelo Martinez made a diving catch, keeping the game from being tied.

In the bottom of the inning, Santiago increased San Diego’s lead to four runs with his fourth homer of the year.

Even with their 6-1 lead through two innings, the Padres were far from secure.

In the third, Pittsburgh scored a run off Davis and had the bases loaded with two outs.

Manager Jim Leyland then had Bobby Bonilla pinch-hit for shortstop Rafael Belliard. All Bonilla managed was a weak inning-ending grounder.

In the sixth, when Davis was working with a four-run lead, he struggled too much. After the Pirates put runners on first and third with one out, Dave Dravecky came on in relief.

Dravecky walked John Cangelosi, loading the bases. Andy Van Slyke followed with what appeared to be an inning-ending double play. However, second baseman Joey Cora booted the ball and could only get a fielder’s choice, allowing a run to score, cutting the margin to 6-3.

Johnny Ray then walked, again loading the bases. Dravecky retired Sid Bream on a fly to center, ending the inning.

After Pittsburgh had scored once in the first, the Padres retaliated with three in the bottom of the inning off former teammate Bob Patterson.

Randy Ready and Tony Gwynn hit one-out singles and Martinez was hit by a 1-2 pitch, loading the bases. Kevin Mitchell walked, forcing in Ready. Santiago singled home Gwynn and Garry Templeton scored Martinez with the Padres’ first sacrifice fly of the season.

Martinez ended Patterson’s night with a three-run homer in the second, well into the left-field bleachers.

Before the homer, Martinez was in a 3 for 28 slump. He had not driven in a run since April 16.

It brought back not so good memories for Patterson, who has always slumped in San Diego. He was once benched for two weeks in 1985 by Dick Williams, then the Padre manager, for allowing six runs in two innings against the Mets.

There was a big difference between the two games.

The Mets won by 10 runs in the 1985 game. The Padres had a much more difficult time Monday.

Padre Notes

Left fielder Kevin Mitchell suffered a pulled left hamstring catching a foul fly ball in the second inning Monday. Mitchell is sidelined on a day-to-day basis. . . . Ed Wojna was sent to Las Vegas when Goose Gossage was activated Monday. Wojna had an 0-3 record and 5.89 earned run average. “Obviously, you’re always disappointed when a demotion is involved,” Wojna said. “With the type of character I have, I look for positive things. At least I have a job. I’m not on the street looking for work. If they need someone to be called up, I want to make my name first because of quality performances.” Manager Larry Bowa on Wojna: “Some games, he’s very aggressive and effective. Some games, he’s tentative. He has to be more aggressive and not take so much time between pitches. He needs more of a positive outlook.” . . . Bowa said he would prefer not to pitch Gossage in pressure situations at first. Gossage had been on the disabled list all season because of a rib cage injury. “I’d just as soon have him come in when we’re way behind or way ahead,” Bowa said. “He really hasn’t done anything for a month. It’s tough.” . . . Pitcher Tom Gorman said he expects to have his situation rectified today. The Padres attempted to send Gorman to Las Vegas last month, but Gorman said he has tendinitis in his arm. A player cannot be sent to the minors if he is injured. Gorman said his agent, Craig Fenech, was discussing the situation with General Manager Jack McKeon Monday night.