NOTEBOOK : PADRES UPDATE : Artistry of Top Shortstops Is a Little Like Magic and Michael

A new National League feature was on exhibit Tuesday night during the Padre-St. Louis game: Shortstops Ozzie Smith and Tony Fernandez, two of the game’s best, performing on the same evening.

Smith downplayed it, reminding that the two have played together before--in Florida exhibition games when Fernandez was with the Blue Jays. And when asked about it, Smith wanted no part of a discussion limited to Fernandez and him.

“There is a great influx now of good shortstops,” Smith said. “It’s very entertaining to be able to sit down and watch guys, and the way they do it.

“I think with the Barry Larkins and Shawon Dunstons, there has been a rejuvenation at the position talent-wise.”

Regarding he and Fernandez, Smith said simply: “We do things a little differently, but the bottom line is getting the job done. The whole thing with baseball is it’s a game of entertainment. My thing is giving people what they pay their money for. I give a good performance from my side, and Tony will from his side.

“It’s like Michael (Jordan) and Magic (Johnson). They’re two different players, two different styles, and they’re both very entertaining. When either one has the ball, you know they’re going to do something different. . . . They’re artists--they use the brush different ways. It’s expression. We’re the same way.”

Home-field advantage?

After playing Monday night in Pittsburgh at 7:35 p.m. EDT, the Padres returned to San Diego around 3 a.m. Tuesday.

St. Louis, meanwhile, played host to San Francisco in a day game Monday (12:35 p.m. CDT) and arrived in San Diego about 8 p.m. Monday.

“Somebody said to me (Monday in Pittsburgh), ‘Does it bother you that you’re starting the game now and St. Louis is probably having dinner in San Diego?”’ Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said.

Neither Riddoch nor the Padres were too happy about the scheduling.

“We had a miserable trip back,” Riddoch said. “It was ridiculous.”

Said Tony Gwynn: “We were a sorry unit (Monday) night. You come home on those late night flights, there’s not much you can do. We all looked pretty pathetic.”

Riddoch canceled batting practice Tuesday, and the Padres didn’t have to be dressed for the game until 6 p.m.

At least two Padres, though, were feeling fine Tuesday. Jose Melendez, Tuesday’s starting pitcher, and Bruce Hurst, the Padre starter today, were sent home from Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon to get some rest.

Ed Whitson’s wife, Kathleen, and 9-year-old daughter, Jennifer, arrived in town Sunday night from their home in Dublin, Ohio. They will stay until school starts in the fall. “Oh man, that makes everything a little bit easier,” Whitson said. “I’m tired of bachelorhood.”

Whitson, on the disabled list with tendinitis in his elbow, underwent another round of X-rays Tuesday and is waiting to see if they show anything more specific.

Retired NL umpire John Kibler, who lives in Oceanside, was on the field before Tuesday’s game. Kibler’s son, Jeff, is an associate producer with ESPN. . . . As the Padres met the Cardinals for the first time this season, Padre pitching coach Mike Roarke had a chance to renew old acquaintances. Roarke, the Cardinals’ pitching coach from 1984-1990, downplayed the night. “This game, you go from switch to switch,” he said. “It was weird when I first went to St. Louis after being a pitching coach for the Cubs.” Roarke was in Chicago from 1978-1980. . . . Third baseman Scott Coolbaugh strained a hamstring Monday night in Pittsburgh and was given a day off Tuesday. Tim Teufel started in his place at third, and Jose Mota started at second. . . . The Padres still are not sure who will oppose St. Louis’ Bob Tewksbury on Thursday. Adam Peterson is scheduled, but the Padres still are not sure if he will be able to go. Atlee Hammaker is a possibility, and Riddoch also mentioned Mike Maddux. “What’s Thursday, three days from now?” Riddoch wondered, referring to the Padres’ inability to plan ahead because of the rash of injuries. “Two? Forget it.” . . . Starting time for next Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates has been moved from 7:05 to 7:35 p.m. to accommodate ESPN.

FIFTH INNING

Cardinals--Perry singled to center. Wilson grounded to pitcher Melendez, Perry moving to second. Pagnozzi singled to right, Perry scoring. Oquendo lined to right. Hill lined to center. One run, two hits, one left. Cardinals 1, Padres 0.

SIXTH INNING

Cardinals--With one out, O. Smith singled to left. Thompson homered to left, his second. Guerrero grounded to third. Perry homered to right, his third. Wilson grounded to third. Three runs, three hits. Cardinals 4, Padres 0.

Padres--Roberts singled to right. Fernandez lined to left. Gwynn singled to left, Roberts stopping at second. McGriff homered to right, his 14th. Teufel struck out. Santiago singled to left. First baseman Guerrero charged with an error on Clark’s foul pop up. Clark doubled to left, Santiago thrown out at plate. Three runs (all earned), five hits, one error, one left. Cardinals 4, Padres 3.

EIGHTH INNING

Cardinals--Maddux pitching, O. Smith singled to center. Thompson doubled to left center, O. Smith scoring. Guerrero singled to left, Thompson stopping at third. Anderson replaced Maddux. Perry flied to right, Thompson scoring. Wilson grounded into double play to shortstop. Two runs, three hits. Cardinals 6, Padres 3.

NINTH INNING

Cardinals--With one out and Rodriguez pitching, Oquendo walked. Langford walked. Jose, pinch-hitting for Hudler, doubled to left, Oquendo and Langford scoring. O. Smith walked. Thompson grounded to second, Jose moving to third, O. Smith to second. Guerrero was walked intentionally, loading the bases. Costello replaced Rodriguez. Gilkey singled to left, Jose and O. Smith scoring, Guerrero stopping at second. Wilson flied to right. Four runs, two hits, two left. Cardinals 10, Padres 3.

Padres--With one out and Agosto pitching, Santiago singled to left. Clark lined to right. Jackson, pinch-hitting for Thomas, singled to right. Dorsett, pinch-hitting for Costello, singled to right, Santiago scoring, Jackson stopping at second. Roberts grounded to short, forcing Dorsett. One run, three hits, one left. Cardinals 10, Padres 4.