Braves Beat Padres; GMs Talking Trades

The Braves defeated the Padres, 3-2, Wednesday, but what went on behind the scenes may have been more important, as preliminary trade talks began between teams that probably could help one another.

While watching the Braves get all their runs in the sixth inning, Padre General Manager Jack McKeon said he had talked with his Atlanta counterpart, Bobby Cox.

“Bobby said he would be interested in trading for kids, that the Braves are in a rebuilding stage,” McKeon said. “Well, that’s one thing we have, kids. Not only already here, on the roster, but coming up.”

McKeon listed the Padres’ needs as pitching, a power hitter and help for the bench.

“Everybody needs pitching, but we have to have a stopper, somebody we can call our ace,” he said.

The Braves are known to have Wednesday’s starter and winner, David Palmer, on the block. He worked six strong innings against the Padres, shutting them out for the first five, until catcher Benito Santiago ended the spell with his 16th homer of the year with one out in the sixth. The homer extended Santiago’s hitting streak to 14 games.

Palmer was removed from the game with one out in the seventh after he walked pinch-hitter Joey Cora on four pitches, none close. Left-hander Chuck Cary replaced Palmer and gave up an RBI double to Tony Gwynn as the Padres made it a 3-2 game, but right-hander Jim Acker came on to retire pinch-hitter Randy Ready and John Kruk to get out of the inning. Then he retired six in a row to preserve Palmer’s eighth victory in 18 decisions and earn his second save.

Eric Nolte, meanwhile, continued his bid for a spot on the Padres’ 1988 pitching staff by shutting out the Braves on three hits until the sixth. Walks cost him, however. He walked Gerald Perry and Dale Murphy before being touched for an RBI double by Gary Roenicke. Manager Larry Bowa replaced Nolte with Lance McCullers, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Ozzie Virgil and an RBI single to Ken Oberkfell before finally getting out of the inning.

The three-run outburst proved too much for the Padres, underscoring McKeon’s need for a power hitter.

“We’ll deal,” he said. “We’re taking a look at things now, but when something presents itself, we’re ready to trade.”

Cox must salivate when he checks the Padre roster, with such youngsters as Stan Jefferson, Ready, Shane Mack and recent call-ups Shawn Abner, Cora, Randell Byers and Mark Parent.

Santiago, however, isn’t available.

“More than likely,” said McKeon, grinning, “we’ll hang on to him.”