Hope Fades for Padres After Loss to Dodgers : Baseball: Now 9 1/2 games out of first, the Padres appear once again to be waiting ‘til next year.

The Padres delayed the inevitable for as long as possible. They proved the critics wrong for much of the season, even surprising themselves at times. Now, there is no hope left.

The Padres, losing 6-4 Tuesday night to the Dodgers in front of 35,237 at Dodger Stadium, finally have succumbed to the realization that they are not a championship-caliber team.

Wait ‘til next year.

Or maybe the year after.

“I thought we had to win two of three games from the Dodgers,” Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn said. “Obviously, we didn’t do that. I’m not giving up, but we’re running out of games.”

The defeat, the second consecutive to the division-leading Dodgers, dumped the Padres into fifth place, 9 1/2 games out of first. It’s one thing to chase one team, but considering the Padres have only 42 games remaining, they realize it’s unrealistic to win the division.

“I think if the front-office really thought we were in this race, anyway, they would have gone out and gotten a second baseman when Bip (Roberts) got hurt,” one Padre said. “We needed someone right away.

“It’s going to be another one of those long Septembers, I guess.”

The Padres’ biggest shortcoming, if there ever was any doubt, was in evidence once again Tuesday when the Dodgers hit three home runs--one each by Eddie Murray, Kal Daniels and Darryl Strawberry. The Padres managed only one extra-base hit--a double by Thomas Howard.

“I still think we are one big bat short,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. “I think we just need one more big bat in the lineup. I’d like to acquire that player either through free agency or trade.”

The Padres, according to sources, have focused their concentration on potential free agents Bobby Bonilla of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Danny Tartabull of the Kansas City Royals. The Padres would prefer Bonilla, who would be used at either third base or left field, but he likely will command a five-year, $25 million contract.

If all things are equal, Bonilla said he’d prefer to stay in Pittsburgh, or possibly play in New York. He’s not ruling out San Diego, but it’s not his first choice, either.

Tartabull, on the other hand, disclosed Tuesday that he has terminated contract negotiations with the Royals. They offered him a three-year, $9 million contract last week, which Tartabull quickly rejected.

“I’ll listen to their (the Royals’) offer just like anybody else when I file for free agency,” Tartabull said, “but I think it’s over. I can’t see me signing here.”

Just what is Tartabull’s first choice in the free-agent market?

“I think everyone knows I want to play for San Diego,” Tartabull said. “I’ve wanted to for awhile, and that hasn’t changed.”

McIlvaine, who rejected a trade for Tartabull during spring training when the Royals asked for Roberts, has vast interest in Tartabull. He tried to obtain him while he was general manager of the Mets and likely will make a bid for him if he indeed becomes available on the free-agent market.

Yet, according to sources, the Padres may have to compete with the Angels for Tartabull’s services. The Angels, according to a highly-placed source, already are making plans in an attempt to acquire Tartabull. Their decision may rest on the fate of Angel first baseman Wally Joyner, who also is eligible for free agency but could be departing for St. Louis.

“I don’t think there’s any question we need another power-hitter in the lineup,” said first baseman Fred McGriff, who has been left unprotected in the lineup, “but that’s not my decision.”

If the Padres don’t have enough problems, Gwynn was even forced to leave the game in the fourth inning, re-aggravating his sprained right ankle. Gwynn is expected to be kept out of today’s starting lineup. The injury originally was sustained Monday night when he rounded second base in the first inning.

“It hurts,” said Gwynn, who’s being listed as day-to-day, “but I really don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to make excuses. I’ll be all right.”

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Padres.

The Dodgers, who have opened a 2 1/2-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves, pounded Padre starter Greg Harris for five earned runs and two homers in the first three innings, ending his skein of 21 scoreless innings.

Harris, who had pitched back-to-back 1-0 shutouts, was in trouble by his second pitch. Brett Butler hit the first pitch for a single to center, and Lenny Harris followed by hitting a sharp one-hopper off Greg Harris’ hand for an infield single.

Padre trainer Bob Day and Manager Greg Riddoch immediately went to the mound, but Harris said he was OK. He immediately proved his point by inducing Kal Daniels into a double-play groundout. Soon, more trouble ensued.

Strawberry, who entered the game with a .143 career batting average against Harris, hit a 1-and-2 curveball into left field, scoring Butler. Eddie Murray, who fared little better against Harris with a .167 career average, followed by hitting a towering home run into dead-center for a 3-0 lead.