Padres Discovering New Ways to Lose as Mets Hit 4 Homers

The word around the Padres’ clubhouse Friday was that the collapse of an attempt to purchase the team by George Argyros would have no effect on the Padres.

“I don’t think it will have a settling effect on us,” right fielder Tony Gwynn said. “The commitment part (by owner Joan Kroc) is great, but it’s not going to happen for us overnight. Things aren’t going to start changing overnight.”

Things did change for the Padres Friday night. Instead of poor hitting, they got poor pitching in a 5-4 loss to the New York Mets in front of 19,330 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Padre owner Joan Kroc held a 10-minute pregame meeting with the team, detailing her renewed commitment. Kroc told the players that she will remain owner at least through the end of the season.

“‘I think now you might see some moves,” team captain Garry Templeton said before the game. “I think it might be good for the club. I can see that Jack (McKeon, general manager) could go after the future, with the young ballplayers we have now, that is the only way you can look is to the future.”

Said Manager Larry Bowa: “That is something I have no control over. There is no sense in me worrying about that.”

Although the Padres were able to produce runs Friday, Bowa has to worry about getting solid pitching on the nights the Padres are hitting.

Bowa has been complaining lately that his pitching staff is getting no support. But Friday, it was the pitching that failed the Padres, allowing four home runs.

Darryl Strawberry opened the fourth inning with a home run to left field off starter Dave Dravecky. Two pitches later, Gary Carter homered to left-center. It was the second straight game the two hit back-to-back homers. Wednesday night in San Francisco, they hit consecutive home runs in the ninth inning to beat the Giants, 4-3.

The home runs gave the Mets a 3-0 lead. The Mets got their first run after Mookie Wilson led off the game with a triple and scored on Tim Teufel’s deep drive to center.

“Even when we had good performances from our pitchers, we are giving up too many home runs,” Bowa said. “It’s ridiculous the home runs we’re giving up. We’re giving up home runs at a brisk pace. All I see is indeciviseness and confusion from my pitchers. I don’t see that confidence of, ‘Give me the ball, and I’m going to get them out.’ ”

The Padres put together a two-out rally in the fourth, after John Kruk singled to right. Benito Santiago hit a hard grounder up the middle that skimmed off the outstretched glove of Met second baseman Teufel, sending Kruk to third. Rookie center fielder Shane Mack slammed an RBI double down the right-field line, scoring Kruk.

Kruk put the Padres back in the game with his three-run homer in the fifth, giving the Padres a 4-3 lead. It was Kruk’s fifth homer of the season.

Stan Jefferson opened the fifth with a walk. After Joey Cora struck out, Gwynn doubled to right. Kevin Mitchell, who is back in the lineup after breaking the small toe on his left foot, grounded to short. Kruk followed with his blast to left.

Storm Davis, who relieved Lance McCullers in the fifth, gave up a deep solo homer to right by Rafael Santana in the sixth. That tied the score, 4-4.

In the seventh, Keith Hernandez tagged loser Craig Lefferts (0-2) for a solo homer off the foul pole in right field.

Padre Notes Steve Garvey will undergo surgery tomorrow at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla. Garvey will have the ruptured biceps tendon in his left shoulder reattached to the bone. He will be out the remainder of the season. . . . Tim Flannery is expected to be activiated when the Padres travel to Montreal Tuesday. Manager Larry Bowa said he hasn’t decided who will be sent down to the minors when Flannery is activated. “I don’t know who yet. We have to make sure (Flannery) is ready to go,” Bowa said. . . . Bowa said he has not made a decision on a full-time replacement for Garvey. For the time being, Carmelo Martinez and John Kruk are being platooned at first. “We’ll see whoever is swinging the bat,” Bowa said. “Right now, Kruk is swinging the bat real good.” Kruk is 29 for 65 in 19 games. . . . Randy Ready could be the Tim Flannery of the future, Bowa said. “He’s a good utility player who does his job,” Bowa said. “He’s very flexible and gives you a good effort all the time.” . . . Kevin McReynolds, making his first appearance at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium since his trade to the Mets, was greeted with a round of boos.