Santiago Makes His Case Known : Baseball: Disgruntled Padre catcher comes to his own defense in 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Padre catcher Benito Santiago has been trying to maintain his composure, keeping his temper to a minimum. The frustrations, however, were growing enormously by the day.

When you is trying to prove to the Padres that they made a colossal blunder by not signing you to a long-term contract, it tends to get a bit irritating when your batting average is falling apart quicker than the automobile industry.

But on a warm night at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Santiago returned to form Wednesday in the Padres’ 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Santiago, whose batting average had dipped to a season-low .238, went two for five, scoring two runs, hitting a home run and driving in two runs.

Just how miserable has Santiago been at the plate?

Forget that he had been in a 10-for-64 skid (.156) entering the game. Forget that he had only two singles in his past 21 at-bats (.095). Forget that he had struck out 13 times in his past 42 at-bats.

Just consider this:

When Santiago hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning, scoring Tony Gwynn, it was his first hit with a runner in scoring position since April 28, spanning 20 games. In what could possibly be the longest drought of his career, Santiago went zero for 15 with runners in scoring position since his ninth-inning, infield single against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“Man, I knew it was a long time, but I didn’t know it was that long,” Santiago said. “It’s about time, huh? We needed that.”

As Merv Rettenmund, Padre hitting coach, will tell you, the offense takes on a new look when Santiago is hitting. The Padres are 10-5 this season when Santiago drives in at least one run. With him in the fifth spot, his presence in the lineup is more vital than ever.

It was no coincidence that with Santiago posing a threat, the Padres’ top of the order feasted on the Braves’ pitching, going 10 for 23 with six runs, and four RBIs. Each of the top five hitters collected two hits for the first time this season.

The Padres launched a 13-hit attack, their highest total since April 18, and with the way Padre starter Bruce Hurst was pitching, the Braves didn’t have a prayer.

Hurst, pitching his first complete game this season, allowed only six hits, and was the most dominant he has been in a game this season.

After Atlanta catcher Mike Heath’s two-out single in the second inning, Hurst faced 19 batters before he allowed another hit--Otis Nixon’s double in the eighth inning. The top six batters in the Braves’ lineup went three for 23, striking out six times.

“I’ve never seen a guy have so much command of all his pitches,” said Brave third baseman Jeff Blauser, who was hitless in four at-bats. “It was unbelievable.”

Said Atlanta leadoff hitter Lonnie Smith: “It was the best he’s ever made me look bad.”

Although Hurst (5-1) has been consistently effective in each of his nine starts, the difference on this night, he said, was his forkball. He and Padre pitching Coach Mike Roarke had a lengthy instructional session this week, breaking down Hurst’s delivery. The result was obvious.

“It (the forkball) just hasn’t reacted the last few starts like I’d like to,” Hurst said. “But tonight, it just felt so much more comfortable. It was natural. I didn’t even have to think about it.”

Likewise, the Braves didn’t even think about running. Although they lead the National League West with 45 stolen bases, more than twice the Padres’ total of 21, Atlanta has not stolen a base in three games. They’ve attempted only two, and were thrown out each time.

Is this the same catcher whom Montreal Manager Buck Rodgers was talking about when he said: “Santiago is not even in the top 10 any more. He’s living off his reputation.”

Santiago said, “I don’t play for him, I don’t have to prove nothing to him. If he has something to say, why doesn’t he say it to my face? But don’t make me look bad in front of the whole country and in San Diego.”

Santiago indeed has struggled throwing out runners this season, successful in only 10 of 31 opportunities, but the statistic is a bit misleading considering that runners were successful in all nine attempts with Eric Nolte on the mound.

“If the pitchers just give me a chance,” Santiago said, “I’ll throw them out.”

But on this night, it was his bat that did the damage. Santiago broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when he hit a leadoff homer into the left-field seats. It was his fifth homer of the season. Clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Padres then put away Brave starter Steve Avery in the fifth.

After two quick outs, Tony Fernandez singled to center. Gwynn, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games and raised his batting average to .354, followed with another single to center. Fred McGriff fell behind in the count, but three pitches later, singled to left, scoring Fernandez.

That brought up Santiago, still searching for his first clutch hit in three weeks. Avery threw a fastball, and Santiago pounced on it, lining a single to left. Jerald Clark then put Avery out of his misery with a double off the center field wall, clearing the bases.

The Padres left the rest up to Hurst, and the only flaw in his performance was in the ninth, allowing the shutout to escape his grasp.

“It was a good as I’ve seen him pitch all year,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “When he’s pitching like that, wow!” PADRES AT A GLANCE Scorecard

FOURTH INNING

Padres--Santiago led off and homered to left, his fifth. Clark fouled to first. Coolbaugh struck out. Faries grounded to second. One run, one hit. Padres 1, Braves 0.

FIFTH INNING

Padres--With two out, Fernandez singled to center. Gwynn singled to center, Fernandez taking third. McGriff singled to left, Fernandez scoring, Gwynn stopping at second. Santiago singled to left, Gwynn scoring, McGriff stopping at second. Clark doubled to center, McGriff and Santiago scoring. Freeman replaced Avery. Coolbaugh struck out. Four runs, five hits, one left. Padres 5, Braves 0.

EIGHTH INNING

Padres--Howard led off and tripled. Coolbaugh flied to right. Faries reached first on infield single to pitcher. Hurst sacrificed, Howard scoring, Faries taking second. Roberts grounded to shortstop. One run, two hits, one left. Padres 6, Braves 0.

NINTH INNING

Padres--Fernandez led off and singled to right. Gwynn singled to right, Fernandez stopping at second. McGriff singled to center, Fernandez scoring, Gwynn stopping at second. Santiago flied to center. Howard grounded to second, McGriff forced at second. Coolbaugh struck out. One run, three hits, two left. Padres 7, Braves 0.

Braves--Gant led off and doubled to left. Justice singled to right, Gant scoring. Cabrera struck out. Blauser reached first on third baseman Coolbaugh’s throwing error, Justice safe at second. Heath grounded to pitcher, Justice stopping at third, Blauser stopping at second. Belliard reached first on infield single to pitcher, Justice scoring, Blauser stopping at third. Nixon fouled to first. Two runs, three hits, one left. Padres 7, Braves 2.