Gwynn’s Batting Title Finishes Down-Up Year : Three-for-Four Day Passes Clark

As if Tony Gwynn didn’t have enough distractions while the season’s final days rolled by and he worked toward another batting title, there was the matter of the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen.

Right field is normally pretty peaceful. It’s a good refuge, especially when reporters are asking questions about the batting race, and various well-wishers are seeking autographs.

This weekend, there was no peace to be found. Not even in right field.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gwynn could see left-handers warming up in the Giant bullpen. He could even hear the bullpen phone ring. Then he would see another left-hander get up.

All this was so the Giants could stop left-handed Gwynn and give their own guy--Will Clark--a chance to win his first batting title.

There was one hitch: On this weekend, there would be no stopping Gwynn. He finished the series Sunday by going three for four and driving in two runs during the Padres’ 3-0 victory, winning his third consecutive batting title and fourth overall.

Mark Davis earned his 44th save, which gave him a record 126 points in the Rolaids relief award. Starter Greg Harris (8-9) went seven innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven.

A crowd of 22,359 paid to see Gwynn win the batting title, putting the Padres over the two-million mark (2,009,032) for only the second time in their 21-year history.

Gwynn finished at .336, his third best over an entire season. Clark, one for four Sunday, finished at .333. Gwynn became the first National Leaguer since Stan Musial (1950-1952) to win three consecutive batting titles.

He now has four in six years. This is also the fourth time he has had more than 200 hits.

It was the first time, though, that Gwynn had to go to the final day to win a title.

“It was really nerve-wracking,” Gwynn said. “I knew in order to win it I had to get one more hit than him today. I ended up winning it, but he had a good year too. He’s going where I want to go (the playoffs).”

When the Giants arrived at the stadium Friday, Clark led the race, .333 to .332. Clark got two hits and Gwynn one Friday night. Saturday, Gwynn had three hits and Clark one, but Gwynn still trailed, .334 to .333.

Sunday, Gwynn singled in the first, grounded to first in the third, then singled in the fifth and again in the eighth. The last two singles each scored Robert Alomar.

Clark’s concession came in the form of a handshake in the eighth after Gwynn reached first with his 203rd hit--and 165th single--of the season.

“Those guys over there (the Padre pitchers) knew exactly what was on the line,” Clark said. “I saw two and oh changeups, two and one curveballs and three and oh sliders.

“I lost to the best. Tony Gwynn goes on the field and gets it done. A lot of this game is luck. The ball I hit the worst today was my only hit. But Tony does it every year, and he does it consistently every year. That’s why he’s one of the best in the game.

“He’s not only a great athlete, he’s a student of the game.”

Clark’s .333 average is the highest of his career. He batted .308 in 1987. No Giant has won a batting title since Willie Mays hit .345 in 1954 while in New York.

“I’m very satisfied,” Clark said. “I sort of came into this year with a goal of being a more consistent hitter overall, wanting to cut down my strikeouts, get some clutch hits and not go for any long period without getting any hits. I think I did that all year.”

Clark finished with 23 home runs and 111 runs batted in.

Those are numbers Gwynn wouldn’t mind seeing next to his name.

“Four batting titles in six years is quite an accomplishment, but there are still some things out there I want to do,” Gwynn said. “I haven’t driven in many runs (60 this year, with four home runs).

“I want to be like Will Clark. When he comes to the plate, there are so many different ways he can beat you.”

Gwynn took the lead for good during his first at-bat. After Clark grounded to first in the top of the first, Gwynn singled to right in the bottom. Gwynn was then hitting .3344, Clark .3330.

“That first hit was off the end of the bat, but it found a hole,” Gwynn said.

His second, which never left the infield, was a bit controversial. It was a grounder up the middle, but San Francisco shortstop Chris Speier fielded it and threw to first. First base umpire Ed Montague called Gwynn safe on a close play. Giant coach Bob Lillis was ejected for arguing from the dugout.

“I thought I beat it out,” Gwynn said. “I glanced over and saw (Montague) call me safe. Then I turned around and saw him booting somebody.”

Clark, though, didn’t say a word to the umpire from his position at first. He told Gwynn, “If it was an (important regular season) game, I’d have to argue.” Then he asked Gwynn what he thought. Gwynn told him.

Gwynn’s single in the eighth gave him a large enough cushion that the call didn’t matter.

“The guys all wanted to shake my hand after Will flied out in the eighth, but I wasn’t shaking anybody’s hand,” Gwynn said. “I didn’t say a word when I came in. I wasn’t showing anybody up, but I didn’t want that infield hit to be a factor. So I just grabbed my helmet.”

And on a two-and-one count, he punched a Craig Lefferts pitch through the right side of the infield to sew up the title. He reached first, shook Clark’s hand and looked up at his wife and children in the stands.

“A great feeling,” he said.

Padre Notes

The Padres scored a run in the second when Phil Stephenson hit his second home run in two days. It was a zero-and-one Kelly Downs pitch, and Stephenson sent it over the right-center field fence. . . . Padre President Dick Freeman said between 2.3 million and 2.4 million tickets were sold this year. . . . The only other time the Padres have drawn more than two million fans was in 1985 (2,210,352). . . . Starter Greg Harris said he felt the pressure when Will Clark came up to bat Sunday. “My concentration level went up,” Harris said. “But that’s the way it’s been all year. When Will steps up to the plate, he can beat you.” . . . Mark Davis. successful in 44 of 48 save opportunities this year, said he and his agent will be meeting today or Tuesday with the Padres; he is eligible for free agency.

PADRE ATTENDANCE

Sunday 22,359 1989 (80 dates) 2,009,032 1988 (81 dates) 1,506,896 Increase 502,136 1989 average 25,115 THREE IN A ROW The challengers have been different, but the NL batting champion has been the same the past three years.

1987

Player AB H Avg. Tony Gwynn 589 218 .370 Pedro Guerrero 545 184 .338

1988

Player AB H Avg. Tony Gwynn 521 163 .313 Rafael Palmeiro 580 178 .307

1989

Player AB H Avg. Tony Gwynn 604 203 .336 Will Clark 588 196 .333