Whitson Stays Hot, Pitches 2-Hitter, 4-1

Ed Whitson had not exactly dominated the Houston Astros before Tuesday’s game in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

He was 3-9 lifetime against Houston. Three Astro starters had career averages of .500 or better against Whitson and three others had averages above .324.

But Whitson is pitching extremely well lately, regardless of the opponent.

He gained his team-high eighth victory of the season with a two-hit 4-1 victory over the Astros in front of 12,722 Tuesday. It was Whitson’s first two-hitter.

“They usually ping me to death or hit line drives right in the gaps,” Whitson said. “But tonight it was my turn.”

Astro shortstop Craig Reynolds doubled to left-center with one out in the fifth to break up Whitson’s no-hit bid. Terry Puhl’s pinch-hit RBI single in the seventh broke up the shutout.

“I had one of the best sliders I’ve ever had,” said Whitson, who threw 70% sliders. “My slider was what was working and that’s what I went with.”

Whitson (8-6) has won his last four decisions, he’s tied for second in the National League in victories with eight and he had six strikeouts to tie his season high. It was his second shutout in his last three games. He beat the Giants, 5-0, June 12 on a four-hitter.

This is a different pitcher from the one who went 1-7 with a 5.59 earned-run average after being re-acquired by the Padres from the Yankees in midseason last year.

“I’m back to throwing the ball like I was in 1984 (when Whitson went 14-8 for the National League champion Padres),” said Whitson, who threw a season-high 130 pitches and was clocked between 90 and 92 miles per hour. “I might be throwing the ball a little better.”

Said Jose Cruz of the Astros: “He kept the ball down and had a good slider and fastball. I’ve faced him a lot of times and he’s a good pitcher, but this is one of the best I’ve seen him throw.”

Padre Manager Larry Bowa also was impressed.

“I think he’s out to prove to people that the way he pitched in New York didn’t mean he was over the hill,” Bowa said. “He’s as good a competitor as there is. I really didn’t realize he was that kind of competitor when I played against him.”

Whitson’s only trouble came in the seventh. Leading, 4-0, he walked Kevin Bass and Cruz to open the inning. Bowa came out to the mound.

“I told him to stay on top,” Bowa said. “He was dropping his elbow down.”

Whitson got Reynolds to foul out to catcher Benito Santiago, struck out pinch-hitter Alan Ashby (.333 lifetime against Whitson) on a wicked slider, and allowed a run-scoring single to Puhl before getting Billy Hatcher to bounce to second.

The Padres gave Whitson an early four-run lead.

In the second inning, Carmelo Martinez--who has hit safely in seven of his last nine games--singled. John Kruk singled to left-center and Martinez scored when Hatcher misplayed the ball for a two-base error. Kruk scored from third on Garry Templeton’s two-out single up the middle.

With one out in the third, Tim Flannery walked. Tony Gwynn’s liner to left--which Cruz said he lost in the lights--resulted in a run-scoring triple. Gwynn scored on a forceout by Kruk.

Nolan Ryan (4-7) allowed four runs--three earned--and four hits, walked two and struck out four.

The Padres have won eight of their last 10 and are 5-2 on the home stand.

“Now we feel we can win before we go out on the field,” Gwynn said. “Early in the season, we went out there and didn’t know if we had a chance to win. The confidence factor is why we’re playing so well. Granted, we caught some breaks tonight, but we’re do for some breaks. We’re playing well.”

Padre Notes The Astros juggled their rotation so that Mike Scott will pitch Thursday afternoon. He’ll face Dave Dravecky.