Clark’s 300th Home Run Not Enough

Go ahead, trade the guy if you want. Send him to the Philadelphia. Ship him to the Chicago White Sox. Pack him for Boston.

But Jack Clark proved once again Monday night in the Padres’ 4-3, 11-inning defeat to the Atlanta Braves, that if the Padres do dare trade him away, it could prove to be a very silly mistake.

Clark continued his dazzling home-run pace this past week with a game-tying home run in the 10th inning, that was erased in the 11th on Oddibe McDowell’s homer off Calvin Schiraldi.

It was Clark’s fourth homer in the past five games, and his eight in the past 20 games.

But this homer was different from all the others.

He said it was the second biggest homer of his career, surpassed only by his homer in the 1985 National League playoffs that vaulted the St. Louis Cardinals past the Dodgers.

This one, you see, was the 300th homer of his career.

He becomes the 63rd player in baseball history to hit 300 homers in his career, and just is one of only 10 active players to achieve the milestone.

“That’s a home run I’ll always remember,” said Clark, who has 18 homers this season, averaging one every 11.8 at-bats. “I’ll never forget the fans’ reaction. That was special.

“Hopefully, I’ll hit a few more for them, and be part of this new era.

“We had a setback this year, but hopefully I’ll be part of their future. I might not hit 400, but hopefully I’ll hit some in games we’ll win.”

Although the Padres are not exactly getting callouses by dialing Clark’s agent, Tom Reich, to offer a contract extension, it does not appear Clark will be going anywhere.

Jack McKeon, Padre vice president, said Monday night that he doesn’t anticipate making any trades before today’s 2 p.m. (PDT) deadline.

“Who said I wanted to trade Jack Clark, anyway,” McKeon said.

Actually, the only restriction that today’s trading deadline provokes is that players must now pass through waivers before being traded. Although few players likely would be claimed, pennant contenders in the past have prevented high-profile players from passing through waivers if they sense their competition will benefit.

“I don’t know how much of that we’ll see this year,” McKeon said, “because if some of these high-priced guys are claimed, their teams might just say, ‘You’ve got them.

“Now, you’re stuck with them.”

And, oh, don’t you know how a few contenders would love to be adding Clark to their lineup.

Clark’s on his greatest tear of the season, batting .348 the past 20 games, raising his batting average to a season-high .258. He went two for four Monday, but of course, the only at-bat Padre fans will remember is the one that resulted in the historic homer, landing in the lap of Zachary Hasten of San Diego.

Hasten and his father, Oscar Hasten, went to the clubhouse after the game to meet Clark, and offer him the baseball. Clark thanked them for the gesture, and in return, gave them one of his bats and offered tickets to the New York Mets’ series in August.

“It’s a special moment in a career,” said Padre outfielder Fred Lynn, who hit his 300th homer last year against Bret Saberhagen at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. “I’ve never played the game for personal statistics, but there’s only two balls I’ve ever kept. My 200th homer, and my 300th.

“Jack will remember this one, I’m sure.”

The active 300 home-run club now includes: Dwight Evans (376), Dave Winfield (370), Dale Murphy (370), Eddie Murray (369), Carlton Fisk (345), Andre Dawson (338), Dave Parker (321), Gary Carter (310), and Lynn (305).

“Sure, it’s special,” Clark said, “they (milestones) all are, 1,000 RBIs, 300. . . . Maybe they’re not considered Hall of Fame numbers, but I’m proud of everything I accomplished.”

The only regret, of course, is that the Padres didn’t win the game for Clark.

They tied the game in the sixth inning on Tony Gwynn’s triple, and then looked like they would break the game wide-open.

Clark reached first on an infield single that third baseman Jim Presley booted, but it prevented Gwynn from scoring. Joe Carter struck out for the first out, but after Steve Averey’s wild pitch allowed Clark to second, the Braves had no choice but to load the bases by intentionally walking Eddie Williams.

Brave Manager Bobby Cox walked toward the mound and called upon, yep, you got it, Mark Grant.

It was a strange experience for Grant to enter San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium and walk into the visiting clubhouse, but now here he was pitching against his former teammates for the first time since being traded July 12 to the Braves.

“I really miss the guys and everything,” Grant said, “but to tell you the truth, I love it here. It’s a great situation being with a young team and everything. It’s like I have a clean slate again. Now, if I could only pitch like I know can.”

Grant entered the game with an 0-1 record and 13.50 ERA since joining the Braves, yielding 24 hits and six walks in 8 2/3 innings, with opponents batting .480.

So what happens with one out, and the bases loaded?

In all of four pitches, Grant retires Parent on a shallow fly ball to right field, and Garry Templeton hits a grounder to second.

And just like that, the man the Padres traded away, came back to haunt them.

Padre Notes

Padre pitcher Eric Show, who was scheduled to start tonight against the Braves, might be scratched because of swelling that developed by his right wrist. If Show is unable to start, Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said that he likely will go with Derek Lilliquist, who was kept out of the game Monday. “I really don’t know what it is,” Show said. “They think it might be an insect bite. It could be tendinitis. I don’t know. I’m completely baffled. It’s not something I need right now, that’s for sure.” . . . Padre catcher Benito Sanitago, who has been on the disabled list since June 14 with a broken left arm, said Monday that he expects to go to triple-A Las Vegas on a rehabilitation assignment before rejoining the team. “I feel pretty good, and am hitting the ball well,” said Sanitago, who had his cast removed a week ago, “but they think it might be best for me to see live pitching.” The Padres, however, have yet to announce a decision. . . . Padre catcher Mark Parent became a father Monday afternoon when his wife, Wendy, delivered a 8 1/2-pound, 20-inch boy, Nicholas. Parent arrived in plenty of time before the game, and immediately began handing out cigars before changing into his uniform. . . . Scouts in attendance at Monday’s game included those from the Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers. . . . Now that the club policy of clean-shaven faces is no longer in effect, reliever Calvin Schiraldi has grown a full beard, third baseman Mike Pagliarulo has grown a goatee and outfielder Joe Carter is growing a beard. . . . Brave catcher Ernie Whitt returned from the disabled list Monday and played his first game since May 28 when he suffered a torn ligament in his left hand. . . . The pitching match-up for the one-game series at 1:05 p.m. Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium: Andy Benes (7-7) vs. Scott Scudder (2-4). The two clubs then will travel to Cincinnati after the game for a four-game series.