Jones Still Has Trouble Ending What He Starts

When Padre starter Jimmy Jones heard Manager Larry Bowa call timeout and head to the mound Sunday, he never thought it was his time to head for the dugout.

“I figured he was coming out to say, ‘Hang in there,’ ” Jones said. “I never thought he was taking me out of the game.”

But that’s what Bowa did. With one out in the sixth inning, Willie McGee on first with a single, three Cardinal runs in and the Padres trailing, 3-1, another Jones’ start was about to end prematurely.

He had just thrown a ball high out of the strike zone to Curt Ford, St. Louis’ left-handed right fielder. That was enough for Bowa. He signaled for Mark Davis, a left-handed reliever, before he reached the mound.

So, for the third straight start, right-hander Jones had left the game with runners on and a left-hander at the plate.

“I felt like I could go the distance,” Jones said. “I wasn’t tired. I wasn’t even breathing hard. I really thought he (Bowa) would let me stay. But that’s his decision.

“You can’t argue with the decision. Mark came in and got the outs.” Davis stopped the Cardinals with 1 innings of hitless relief and the Padres rallied, only to lose, 5-4, on Jack Clark’s second home run of the afternoon in the 10th inning at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

That left Jones (2-3) his sixth no-decision as a starter. His two victories have come in relief.

With Storm Davis possibly returning from the disabled list as early as this week, Jones’ position in the starting rotation is in doubt.

Storm Davis is scheduled to pitch a simulated game today to test his recovery from torn rib cartilage. If he is activated, that could mean trouble for reliever Greg Booker (0-1, 4.10 ERA) if Jones returns to the bullpen. Or, Jones could go back to where he started the season, with the Padres’ Triple-A team in Las Vegas. “We’ll worry about that when it happens,” Bowa said.

Jones has pitched effectively in several relief appearances. He earned his way back into the rotation when he replaced Storm Davis, who was injured in the first inning of a 3-0 victory against the Dodgers June 29. Jones was credited with the victory, pitching eight shutout innings and allowing two hits.

Jones had another impressive relief streak earlier in the season when he pitched every game of a four-game series against San Francisco June 18-21.

“That really showed Larry (Bowa) had confidence in me,” Jones said. “He wasn’t afraid to use me any time.” But when Jones returned as a starter three days later, he allowed six hits and five runs (one earned) in 4 innings and lost to the Astros, 12-7. He lasted 6 innings each in his next two starts against the Expos and Pirates, leaving both games when a left-hander came to bat.

“I know some day Larry is going to leave me in there, and I’m going to do the job,” Jones said. “I have the stuff to get left-handers out.”

Jones was pitching smoothly until the sixth inning Sunday, allowing only a single by left fielder Vince Coleman to open the game and walks to Ford and Clark.

But Coleman opened the sixth with a single and then stole second. He went to third on a balk and scored on shortstop Ozzie Smith’s single to tie the score, 1-1. Third baseman Terry Pendleton grounded to third before Clark put the Cardinals ahead, 3-1, on his first home run, a line shot to left. McGee singled and Bowa allowed the one pitch to Ford before taking Jones out.

Jones, in 42 innings as a starter, has allowed 45 hits, 33 runs (26 earned), 4 home runs and 18 walks. He has struck out 14. His earned-run average as a starter is 5.57; overall, it’s 4.95.

Selected just ahead of Dwight Gooden as the fourth pick of the 1982 draft, Jones pitched a one-hitter against Houston last September, the first in a major league debut since Juan Marichal’s one-hitter in 1960.

“A lot of pitchers have had one great game,” Jones said. “But I know I can help this club. I’d prefer to start, but if I can help the team from the bullpen, I’m glad to do it.

“I don’t think I’m going to be sent down--not the way I’ve been pitching. If I was getting blasted, I might be able to understand it. If they send me down, I’ll be upset.”