Padres’ Notebook : Gwynn’s a Hit Even Though It’s Just Spring

As Gomer Pyle used to say, “Surprise, surprise!”

Tony Gwynn ripped what turned out to be the game-winning single Monday in Desert Sun Stadium as the white team beat the brown team, 4-0, in a five-inning intrasquad game.

Benito Santiago, Stan Jefferson and Joey Cora had two hits apiece. Chris Brown added a two-run double off reliever Lance McCullers in the last inning.

McCullers pitched the top and the bottom of the final inning in the game, a tune-up for the regular spring training schedule that begins here Friday against the Angels.

Manager Larry Bowa was especially pleased with his pitching staff. “I thought they all threw the ball well,” he said.

Mark Davis allowed two hits and no runs with two strikeouts in two innings. He was the winning pitcher. Eric Show also pitched two shutout innings, as did Eric Nolte.

The loser was Jimmy Jones, who gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) in his two-inning stint.

Bowa is generally happy with the way training camp has progressed to date.

“I like everything that’s going on,” he said. “I like their (the players’) attitudes. I like the way they’re working.

“The pitchers are experimenting with certain pitches in certain situations. They’re trying things. They’ve been receptive to what we’re trying to give them. The attitude’s been great.

“You’d like the hitters to be a little farther ahead at this point. Any pitcher with a breaking ball right now seems to be ahead of the hitters. And I’m sure if you go to any camp right now you’re gonna get that.

“The hitters will start to catch up when their hands get a little quicker and their hand-eye coordination starts to improve. The only way that’s gonna happen is by playing every day, taking batting practice and seeing live pitching.”

The daily two-mile run becomes more of a media event by the day. This time the Padres’ public relations staff placed a table filled with water cups at a strategic spot 1.5 miles into the race.

The first group of players to run past didn’t know what to make it.

But pitcher Mark Grant got into the spirit of the thing when he stopped and doused his head like a marathoner.

For the third straight day Cora won the race, with rookie pitcher Greg Harris a close second. Cora overtook Harris with about 100 yards left and was able to hold him off at the finish line.

Nolte finished third followed by rookie pitcher Todd Simmons and former White Sox pitcher Joel McKeon.

At one point during the intrasquad game Bowa directed the catcher to appeal a Roberto Alomar check swing to the third-base umpire.

Since there was no third-base umpire, Bowa said, “Ask his dad.” He was referring to third-base coach Sandy Alomar, Roberto’s father.

For the record, Alomar Sr. said Roberto didn’t swing.

Later, Bowa said he hasn’t ruled out Alomar making the final roster. Roberto Alomar, 20, hit .319 and stole 43 bases in Wichita last year.

“I haven’t decided to send him down,” Bowa said. “Maybe some other people have.”

Sandy Jr., a catcher, is also still in camp.

Padre Notes

Former Cub Keith Moreland was again one of the last finishers in the two-mile run. Moreland received the day off from the intrasquad game. . . . Outfielder Carmelo Martinez also had the day off from the intrasquad game, but he strolled by to watch. . . . No new player signings, which means there are still 15 unsigned Padres. . . . There will be a full intrasquad game Wednesday.