Padres Lose, Say They Were Framed

There were no sandpaper, emery board or bat controversies at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium Wednesday night.

But there was a postgame discussion centered on the framing of strikes by veteran Atlanta Brave catcher Ted Simmons.

After their seven-game winning streak came to an end in a 2-1 loss to Atlanta, the Padres talked a lot about the excellent control and “stuff” of Brave starter Zane Smith.

And Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn--the National League’s leading hitter, who went 1 for 4--added that Smith appeared to get considerable help on close strike calls from Simmons.

“I don’t think it was (home-plate umpire Terry) Tata as much as Simmons behind the plate,” said Gwynn, who was called out on a close called third strike in the first inning. “He’s (Simmons) become the Bob Boone of the National League, shifting around back there.”

When asked about the way Simmons might be moving his mitt and body to get a favorable call from the umpire, Smith said: “He’s just a great catcher. That’s all I can say. He knows how to call a game.”

What about the called third strike on Gwynn? “Ted got it for me,” Smith said. “I’ll take everything I can get. Especially when it’s Tony Gwynn.”

As for Simmons, he didn’t buy any of it. “I didn’t see the game quite the way they (the Padres) did,” Simmons said. “Terry Tata is a fine umpire and he didn’t make the strike zone any different. Those who were blaming the strike zone were looking for an excuse. It had nothing to do with the ball game.”

The Padres were limited to six hits and left nine runners on in the first six innings. Smith retired the final 10 Padres and got pinch-hitter John Kruk and Stan Jefferson on close called third strikes in the ninth.

That’s four straight victories for Smith, who has been caught by Simmons in each of those starts. Smith is 12-6 overall, 7-1 on the road and has a 2.67 earned-run average in his last 33 innings.

“You have to give their pitcher credit,” Padre Manager Larry Bowa said. “He pitched a hell of a game.”

Despite his comments about Simmons, Gwynn did not want to take anything away from Smith. “The man pitched a great game,” Gwynn said. “He has good stuff and he mixed up his pitches.”

Smith said he felt in control of all his pitches--fastball, curve, slider and changeup.

Smith’s counterpart, rookie Eric Nolte (1-1), was also quite impressive. Nolte allowed a run in the first on Gerald Perry’s home run to right (a waist-high fastball) and another in the third on Dale Murphy’s sacrifice fly to the warning track in center.

Nolte left the game in the sixth inning, trailing 2-1, but the rookie made his second excellent start in three tries since being recalled from Double-A Wichita of the Texas League July 30. Pitching in front of a crowd of 14,400, the young left-hander allowed only two runs and three hits, including one infield hit on a grounder that could have easily been ruled an error on Garry Templeton. Nolte walked three, struck out five, hit one batter and allowed his first major league homer.

“I felt a lot better than in my last start,” said Nolte, who walked seven in 3 innings last Friday against the Astros. “I wasn’t nearly as nervous tonight. I tried to go out there and have fun. Things seem to be falling into place. I’m more relaxed.”

But without much offensive support, Nolte suffered his first major league loss.

In the first inning, Benito Santiago bounced into a force play with runners on first and second and two out. The Padres left a runner on in both the second and third. In the fourth, Nolte (1 for 5 in his brief major league career) struck out with runners on first and second and two out.

After stranding another runner in the fifth, the Padres finally scored in the sixth. Santiago doubled to right. After Shane Mack grounded to third, Templeton drove in Santiago with a single to center. Randy Ready grounded to first, advancing Templeton to second. Luis Salazar, pinch-hitting for Nolte, walked, but Jefferson stranded two runners when he flied to center.

And 10 straight batters later, the Padres’ winning streak had come to an end at seven.

Padre Notes

The Padres have stolen 20 bases in their last 11 games and are second in the major leagues in steals with 135. Last season, the Padres stole 94 bases. “I like to run,” Manager Larry Bowa said. “I like to make things happen. I don’t like standing around.” Tony Gwynn leads the team with 38 steals, followed by Stan Jefferson with 23. And Jefferson--who Bowa says has the potential to steal 60 to 70 bases a season--has missed five weeks because of injuries. Gwynn and Jefferson are the only players on the Padres who are allowed to run on their own. Gwynn stole his 38th base in the fifth inning Wednesday to top his personal high of 37 set last season. So, does Gwynn think of himself as a base stealer? “No,” he said with a smile. “I’m no speed merchant. I don’t have blazing speed like Stanley (Jefferson). I run with my head. After ’85 (14 stolen bases), I felt I should learn how to do it (steal bases), so I worked on it. I’m not scared to get thrown out now. That was my problem before.” Gwynn, who leads the National League in hitting (.366), hits (154) and triples (10) and is in the Top 10 in doubles (27) and on-base percentage (.441 going into Wednesday’s game), is quite proud of his ability to master yet another facet of the game. “When you come up, they label you,” Gwynn said. “When I came up, I was a hitter. Last year, I got respect for my defense. This year, it’s for my base stealing. It’s satisfying proving people wrong. I get a lot of satisfaction out of that.” What’s next for Gwynn? “Every year, it’s been something different,” he said. “Sooner or later, the year will come when I hit 20 home runs.” . . . Defensive plays of the game: In the ninth, Gwynn threw out Gary Roenicke at the plate on a short fly to right by Ken Oberkfell. Shortstop Garry Templeton’s back-handed stop in the hole and throw to get Zane Smith in the seventh inning. . . . Greg Booker allowed just two hits in 2 innings of shutout relief. Mark Davis got out of a ninth-inning jam when he got Oberkfell to fly to right and Gwynn threw out Roenicke at the plate. . . . Storm Davis, in rehabilitation with Class-A Reno, allowed two hits, two runs, walked six and struck out five in five innings against Visalia Wednesday.