Padres Storm Giants for Sixth Straight : Martinez Hits 2 Home Runs as San Francisco Loses Sixth in Row

It wasn’t long ago that Carmelo Martinez was benched, Storm Davis was out of the starting rotation and the Padres were losing.

How times have changed.

In the Padres’ 3-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in front of 13,856 fans Thursday night in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, Martinez blasted two solo home runs.

Davis started, won, retired 14 straight hitters at one point, allowed just one run and three hits and struck out a season-high seven batters in six innings.

And the team with the worst record in baseball got its sixth straight victory--the longest winning streak for the Padres since they won seven straight in May 1985. And the Giants lost their sixth straight.

First, the Padres’ hitting star.

Martinez--who has been using a smaller and lighter bat recently-- walked twice as well as hitting the home runs. It was the first time Martinez has hit two home runs in a game since May 30, 1985, against Montreal, and the first time a Padre has done it since Kevin McReynolds hit two against Montreal last August.

In his last five games, Martinez has reached base 15 times in 21 at-bats. His nine hits include four doubles and four home runs, three in the last two games. He has driven in 11 runs.

“I feel good,” Martinez said. “You don’t think about hitting home runs, and they come.”

Martinez is hot against everyone. Particularly against Giant starter and loser Atlee Hammaker (3-4). Martinez is 5 for 10 with three home runs lifetime against Hammaker.

“You have to be patient with him,” Martinez said. “I didn’t swing at bad pitches. When he falls behind, you get your pitches.”

Martinez said he was trying to go the opposite way when he hit a 3-1 high fastball over the fence in center field. The ball was just to the right of the 405-mark. That gave the Padres a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

On his next at-bat in the sixth, Martinez hit a 3-2 pitch on a line over the left-field fence. The Padres led, 3-1.

After six innings, Davis--who was throwing more over the top and had a good, low fastball--told Padre Manager Larry Bowa he was a little winded and Bowa should go to the bullpen.

“He said he pretty well had it,” Bowa said. “I appreciated him being honest. I thought he threw outstanding. I’d assume he left with a good taste in his mouth.”

On the whole, it has been a sour season for Davis, who is 2-6 and had a 6.57 earned run average coming into Thursday’s game.

“I was pleased I threw strikes and was aggressive,” Davis said. “And I’m pleased we won a game.”

Making his second start since returning to the starting rotation last week, Davis allowed a run in the first, but then settled down to get his first victory since May 4, when he defeated Pittsburgh, 9-5. Six innings was his longest outing since he went six innings against the Dodgers April 25.

“You go as long as you can and then put what you’re trying to do personally aside,” Davis said.

And you go to a rejuvenated Padre bullpen that has not allowed an earned run in the last 20.1 innings.

On Thursday, Jimmy Jones pitched a tough scoreless seventh.

Candy Maldonado singled to center and went to second on an error by Shane Mack. After Chris Brown bounced out to shortstop, Bob Brenly reached first on a roller that stayed fair down the third base line.

Robby Thompson was called out on strikes. Chili Davis was riding an 0-for-22 slump when he pinch-hit for Matt Williams. Davis’ hard grounder to first was bobbled by Martinez, but he recovered in time to toss to Jones, who beat Davis to the bag.

“I only wanted to get one inning out of Jones,” Bowa said.

Goose Gossage, who has not allowed a run in his last 13 innings, got his fifth save by pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth.

Jeffrey Leonard led off the ninth with a single to left. Maldonado’s sharply hit grounder was bobbled by shortstop Garry Templeton. The tying runs were on base with no outs.

Brown followed with a grounder to Templeton, who this time helped turn a shortstop-to-second-to-first double play. Brenly popped to shortstop.

The Giants had lost their sixth straight. The Padres had won their sixth straight, but Bowa has not come to close to blocking out the team’s 46 losses.

“No, I remember,” Bowa said. “Trust me. I have scars everywhere. I won’t forget that start as long as I live. It makes you appreciate wins more.”

Padre Notes Even though the Padres have agreed to pay pitcher LaMarr Hoyt’s the balance of his guaranteed $3.2-million contract, his release is “clearly something that can’t stick up if it’s challenged,” according to Donald Fehr, head of the Major League Baseball Players Assn. “Nobody believes it (Hoyt’s release) has anything to do with his playing ability.” Fehr said he is reviewing the Padres’ action with Hoyt’s representatives. “It seems clear that if the action is challenged, it will be overturned,” Fehr said. Said Chub Feeney, Padre president: “If they’ll file a grievance, we’ll just have to see. It seems to me this is really in LaMarr’s best interest. He can sign with any team, and we’re going to pay him.”

First baseman John Kruk is still a few days away from starting because of his sore right knee. Manager Larry Bowa hopes to have Kruk back in the starting lineup by Saturday. . . . Bowa said if the Padre starters continue to pitch well, he might send one of his 11 pitchers down to Las Vegas when Marvell Wynne comes off the disabled list Thursday. Wynne suffered muscle spasms in his lower back in Houston June 9. Either Jimmy Jones or Ray Hayward would be sent down. . . . The flag in center field at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium was at half mast in honor of former Kansas City Royal manager Dick Howser, who died of cancer Wednesday. . . . Giant third baseman Chris Brown was activated Thursday, and he started against the Padres after missing 38 games with a fractured left jaw. . . . The Giants have sent Ivan DeJesus to their Triple-A club in Phoenix. . . . Third baseman Kevin Mitchell was removed from Thursday’s game in the fifth inning with a pulled left hamstring. . . . Dave Dravecky will start tonight instead of Andy Hawkins, who was scheduled but developed stiffness in his shoulder. Hawkins is expected to start Saturday night.