Show, Gwynn Put Their Differences and Braves to Rest

Eric Show and Tony Gwynn will remember the Padres’ 5-1 victory Friday over the Atlanta Braves for some time.

For Show, who allowed just one run and five hits in 7 innings, it was a much-needed victory after he lasted only one-third of an inning in his last start and spent a frustrating week trading barbs with his teammates.

“I was out in the lion’s den because of everything that was said and written (this week),” Show said. “It was good to go out and do a good job. If I hadn’t, I might have really been buried.”

For Gwynn, who this week said he didn’t like Show’s complaining about the Padres’ lack of support whenever he pitched, Friday night’s game provided both the usual and the unusual.

Gwynn continued his torrid hitting (.533 over the past seven games) with three singles to raise his National League leading average to .378.

But he also heard nasty comments from the home fans.

“I heard some things out of the stands I thought I’d never hear,” Gwynn said. “Deep down, it hurt a little. They were things I’ve never heard before. It touched me a little bit.”

When asked what was said, Gwynn said: “I’m not going to bitch with our own fans. I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth again.”

About Show, Gwynn said: “Eric pitched a hell of a game. I’ll leave it at that. I don’t hold any grudges against Eric. I want to win.”

“I’d like to bury this,” Show said. “Tony and I have had a good relationship.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s already forgotten.”

The beginning of the game was not auspicious. Brave center fielder Dion James doubled to right on Show’s first pitch, and Rafael Ramirez singled to right on his second pitch.

“I felt I better muster up every bit of brain power to get out of this,” Show said.

Said Manager Larry Bowa: “I wasn’t thinking too good thoughts. I saw it last Sunday.”

After allowing a run on a sacrifice fly by Gerald Perry, Show retired former Padre Graig Nettles on a bouncer back to the mound with runners on second and third and two out.

From that point on, Show allowed only three hits. Once again, the Braves proved to be a good tonic for the Padre right-hander.

Show is 10-1 lifetime against the Braves, and two of his three wins this season have come against them.

The Padres were trailing 1-0 when they broke through for two runs in the fifth. They added three in the sixth and were headed to their 10th win in the last 13 games.

A leadoff walk to Bruce Bochy, a soft double down the right-field line on a golf swing by Garry Templeton and sacrifice flies to center by Show and Stan Jefferson gave the Padres a 2-1 lead after five innings.

In the sixth, Kevin Mitchell singled to left for a run, Bochy looped a run-scoring single to right and Templeton drilled an RBI triple to deep left-center field.

The Padres led, 5-1, thanks in good part to Templeton, who had a double, triple and two walks. Templeton entered the game hitting just .205, and he has been playing with a sore right shoulder that causes him considerable pain.

“It hurts when I swing,” Templeton said. “It hurts when I throw. It hurts when I go to sleep. But I’ve just been going out there playing. . . . But I only throw hard if I have to. It hurts.”

Templeton didn’t have to throw hard, but he had to move quickly, when he made a big unassisted double play to end a potential Brave rally in the eighth.

With runners on first and second and one out, Goose Gossage came on in relief of Show. It was Gossage’s first appearance in eight days.

“I didn’t want to get him (Show) in a position, as well as he pitched, to lose the game,” Bowa said.

The first batter to face Gossage was Dale Murphy, who is tied for the league lead in home runs with 23. Murphy hit a grounder up the middle that Templeton scooped up behind second. He tagged the base and easily tossed to first for an inning-ending double play.

Gossage closed out the Braves in the ninth to pick up his sixth save. He has saves in each of his last four outings and has not allowed a run in his last 14 innings.

“We’re a different team now (than earlier in the season),” Bowa said. “But we take one game at a time. I’ve seen this game bite me in the nose before.”