Expos’ Walker Does It All in Victory Over Padres : Baseball: Montreal outfielder hits two, including game-winner in the 10th.

Selected quotes from the Padre clubhouse Friday:

“What a day,” Ed Whitson said. “Damn, I can’t believe how many people are getting hurt.”

Said Fred McGriff: “Tough business.”

And these words were uttered before the Padres’ 10-inning, 6-4 loss to Montreal, so don’t expect them to be smiling today.

Injuries have stalked the Padres as fiercely as their fans hunt for give-away nights. The Padres lost in front of a Cap Night crowd of 54,841 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium--the largest regular-season crowd in Padre history.

As for McGriff, he was referring to three roster moves made by the Padres. The club said goodby to outfielder Mike Aldrete (placed on waivers), pitcher Derek Lilliquist (sent to Triple-A Las Vegas) and outfielder Jerald Clark (placed on the 15-day disabled list).

Tough business? Tough night. The Padres lost when Larry Walker--he of the .197 batting average, one home run and four RBI entering Friday’s game--hit a two-run homer in the 10th off Padre reliever Wes Gardner.

Larry Walker? Well, yes. Walker’s heroics came after a two-run homer in the eighth on the first pitch delivered by Craig Lefferts. Walker, whose career average entering this season was .234, also had two singles on a four-for-five evening. It was the biggest night of his career--he collected his first two-homer game, first four-hit game, and the four RBIs also were a career high.

It was a game the Padres nearly won in the ninth. With two out and none on, Montreal, ahead 4-3, elected to intentionally walk Fred McGriff. Pinch-hitter Tom Lampkin followed with a single, and the Padres suddenly had runners on first and second.

Up stepped pinch-hitter Garry Templeton, who worked Tim Burke to a full-count before lashing a double into the right-center gap. McGriff scored, making it 4-4. Lampkin--who was not pinch-run for--raced around third as Walker, Montreal’s right fielder, threw home. Shortstop Tom Foley cut it, turned and threw to catcher Gilberto Reyes.

Lampkin chose to slam into Reyes rather than slide, and he was tagged out. Replays showed that Lampkin likely would have been safe had he slid.

So they went into the 10th, and the Padres got another glimpse of Walker.

It wasn’t a night the Padres will remember fondly.

The Expos were determined not to let McGriff beat them. The Padre first baseman’s 14-game hitting streak came to an end--he was hit by a pitch in the second, grounded to first in the fourth, walked in the sixth and was intentionally walked in the seventh and ninth.

Padre starte Ed Whitson, who was lifted for a pinch-hitter after six innings of work, held the Expos to two runs and eight hits in six innings, but didn’t receive much offensive help.

It translated to the Padres’ third loss in a row.

Manager Greg Riddoch said Friday that Eric Nolte, the fifth starter, will be relegated to the bullpen. And who will take his place Tuesday? Riddoch said that decision has yet to be made. Greg Harris, on the disabled list with tendinitis in his elbow, will play catch today to test his arm. Harris said his elbow feels better.

One option could be Dennis Rasmussen, who is with triple-A Las Vegas on a rehabilitation stint. But Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, intimated that Rasmussen will make one more start for the Stars before being recalled.

And Rasmussen isn’t the only Padre pitcher being rehabilitated. Atlee Hammaker will start Monday for single-A High Desert.

“Wherever that is,” Hammaker said. “I’ll have to find it on the map and start driving.”

As for pitchers who are healthy, the Padres used Whitson, Mike Maddux (one inning), Lefferts (two innings), Wes Gardner (two-thirds) and Rich Rodriguez (one-third) on Friday.

The Expos struck first when shortstop Spike Owen smacked the first pitch he saw from Whitson over the right-field fence. Unusual? Well, yes and no. Owen had only 30 homers in eight big league seasons entering Friday’s game. But, he feasts on Whitson--he is eight for 18 (.444) lifetime against Whitson, with two home runs.

They chipped away for another run in the sixth. With two out, Andres Galarraga sliced a double down the third-base line and, two batters later, Reyes singled him home.