Bass’ Homer Sets the Tenor for Giant Win : Baseball: Padre reliever Myers is showered with boos after giving up 10th-inning home run in 5-3 defeat.

It was a gala, festive occasion Saturday night at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. The Padres felt it, the crowd sensed it.

First baseman Fred McGriff was back from his suspension. The lineup was set with third baseman Gary Sheffield batting third. Andy Benes was on the mound. The San Francisco Giants were the opponent.

Everything was going to be all right.

There was only one problem. Someone let reliever Randy Myers crash the Padres’ party.

The Padres lost 5-3 in 10 innings to the Giants when Kevin Bass hit a one-out, two-run homer off Myers, bringing the Padres’ three-game winning streak to a screeching stop.

Although the Padres (39-35) already have as many victories as the Atlanta Braves in the entire first half of last season, they now find themselves 5 1/2 games out of first place, equaling their season high.

The defeat ruined McGriff’s comeback, the termination of right fielder Tony Gwynn’s slump, the block of home plate by catcher Dan Walters and, of course, any notion that Myers has resolved his woes.

Myers, who has not been in a save situation since June 2, entered the game having pitched four consecutive scoreless innings. The Padres had started to believe he was out of his slump.

That sense of security ended when Myers gave up a leadoff single to Mike Felder in the 10th. Myers managed to strike out Willie McGee, but Bass then deposited a 1-1 pitch over the left-field fence.

The crowd of 42,449 suddenly forgot all of their frustration and anger toward the Giants. They began booing Myers lustily.

“If I thought I made a mistake on the pitch,” said Myers (2-2 with a 6.17 ERA), “I’d feel lousy. I made the pitch I wanted to--a slider down and in--and he hit it. There’s nothing I can do about that.

“You can’t pitch once every four or five days and expect to be consistent.”

Myers has pitched in only two games the past week. There was a day off on Wednesday, and Padre starter Bruce Hurst pitched a shutout Thursday.

The Padres, who have stayed in contention despite their pitching woes, leave the rest of the league fearing where they’d be if not for Myers’ problems.

“He’s throwing good, and from what I observed he still has his ability,” Giant Manager Roger Craig said, “but maybe he lost his confidence.

“It doesn’t help when the hometown fans boo him. It’s not like he’s not trying. He’s got a good changeup, which he never used to have. If anything, he’s gotten the ball up more. His fastball is just as good, but his location is not as good as I know he wants it to be.”

The Padres, however, never should have been in a tied game in the first place. They scored three runs in the first inning off Giant starter Billy Swift, but never scored again. He pitched the next five shutout innings, and the Giants’ beleaguered bullpen did the rest, with Jeff Brantley (3-4) pitching the final two innings for the victory.

Padre starter Andy Benes cruised with a 3-0 lead for the first five innings, and then fell apart in the sixth when the Giants put together a rare rally. They opened the inning with four consecutive singles, and the Padres’ lead suddenly was cut to 3-2, with no outs and Giant runners on second and third.

Second baseman Robby Thompson needed only a single into the outfield to produce the Giants’ biggest inning in more than a week. Instead, he popped up to second baseman Tim Teufel.

It was catcher Kirt Manwaring’s turn next. He hit a sinking line drive to right field that Tony Gwynn caught on the run. The Giants know all about Gwynn’s arm but, considering No. 8 hitter Jose Uribe was on-deck, decided to send Cory Snyder from third base.

Big mistake.

Painful mistake.

Gwynn’s throw to catcher Dan Walters was perfect. Cory Snyder was about six feet away from home plate when the throw arrived.

Snyder lowered his shoulder, clenched his forearm, and threw a roll-block into Walters.

Walters, 6 feet 4 and 225 pounds, didn’t even budge. Snyder, 6-3 and 185, bounced off, flew into the dirt and looked in disbelief that Walters wasn’t even fazed.

That moment’s euphoria lasted only briefly. In the next inning, pinch-hitter Chris James, a former Padre, deposited Benes’ fastball into the left-field seats to tie the game at 3. It was James’ second pinch-hit homer of the season.

The homer also kept Benes (6-5) mired in his drought. He has won only one game since May 22, and the Padres have won only one of his last six starts. In contrast, the Giants have won all 11 of Swift’s starts this season.

The Padres also had a key opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth with Teufel at second base with one out. Tony Fernandez flied to center for the second out.

Craig then decided to have Brantley intentionally walk Gwynn to get to Sheffield, who entered the game with a .429 average against the Giants this season.

It turned out to be the right move. Sheffield flied deep to center.