No Stars Shining in Padre Offense : Baseball: Cardinals win, 1-0, as Padres lose fifth in a row.

Padre first baseman Fred McGriff tore up his plane tickets to Tampa, Fla., after learning Wednesday that he’ll be staying in town for the All-Star game.

Padre fans spent the rest of the night wondering if those tickets could be used to send bullpen stopper Randy Myers on a one-way trip out of town.

The Padres dropped their fifth consecutive game Wednesday, losing 1-0 to the St. Louis Cardinals when Myers surrendered a ninth-inning homer to Tom Pagnozzi.

The Padres (43-42) have lost six of their last seven games, and have virtually dismissed any hopes of being in a pennant race the second half. Although they remained 8 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cincinnati Reds, they now are only one game ahead of the fourth-place San Francisco Giants.

“It’s getting bad,” one Padre veteran said. “It’s like we’re dead. I can’t believe how flat we are.”

The Padres, who came into the three-game series against the Cardinals with the best offense in the National League, have been shut out in two of the last three games. They scored only three runs in 27 innings against the Cardinals, batting a cumulative .208 with only four extra-base hits.

It wasn’t as though the Padres were facing Glavine, Smoltz and Avery. They lost to Mark Clark, Donovan Osborne and Omar Olivares. The trio have only 13 victories this season. The Padres managed only six hits against Olivares (5-4), who was traded from the Padres in 1990 for outfielder Alex Cole.

The result was the Cardinals’ first three-game sweep at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium since July, 1989, and their first three-game sweep of any team in the league this season.

What made the defeat so excruciating on this night was that Padre rookie Frank Seminara’s finest performance of the season was wasted. He pitched a career-high eight shutout innings, allowing seven hits.

“That was very encouraging,” Manager Greg Riddoch said. “I can’t say enough about the way he pitched. He now senses he can pitch here, and belongs here.”

Said Seminara: “The bottom line is wins and losses. I’d much rather pitch five or six innings and win than eight shutout innings and lose.”

The Cardinals and Padres were at a stalemate for the first eight innings of the game. Each team threatened several times, and had its chances, but neither could obtain the crucial hit.

When the Padres used Gary Sheffield to pinch-hit in the bottom of the eighth for Seminara, Riddoch had no choice but to go to the bullpen. He went to Myers, who has been back in a closer’s role, along with Tim Scott.

Myers came into the game with the usual introduction by the 16,580 hometown fans . . . loud boos.

He also left the game with the usual farewell . . . louder boos followed by curses.

It took fewer than 10 pitches for Myers to self-destruct.

He was able to induce a popup by Todd Zeile. Felix Jose then hit a line drive into the gap, only to have center fielder Darrin Jackson rob him of a double with a head-long diving catch.

Myers fell behind 2-and-1 to Pagnozzi, and then paid the price when Pagnozzi sent his next pitch over the left-center-field fence.

For the first time this season, Myers, 2-3, 5.95 ERA, left immediately after the game and did not make himself available to the media. He wasn’t around to comment on Riddoch’s announcement that Myers return to his role as a closer.

“We’re going to look at him there again and see what happens,” Riddoch said. “We tried the other way, and it upset the rest of the bullpen. It wasn’t good for our bullpen to call up different guys each time.

“We’ve tried everything else for far, so we’ll look at another direction.”

Actually, the Padres could use a boost for their offense as much as anything. They’ve played the past two games without Sheffield in the starting lineup, and the Padres are hopeful his return today will provide a spark.

Sheffield is expected to join McGriff today in giving up his plane tickets to Tampa. He’ll be announced today, along with shortstop Tony Fernandez, as a reserve on the All-Star team, according to a highly-placed source. They’ll join starters Tony Gwynn, Benito Santiago and McGriff, giving the Padres a league-high five All-Stars.

“It’s a great day for the Padres,” Riddoch said. “That speaks highly for the organization.”

Of course, what day in the life of the Padres can be complete without a little controversy?

Santiago, who likely will be playing his final All-Star game in a Padre uniform, has informed management that he won’t go along with their plans for him to play left field.

“I’ve thought about it, and I’m not going to do it,” Santiago said. “Come on, I’m an All-Star catcher, and they want me to play left field? Please.”

The Padres wanted Santiago to play left field to give rookie catcher Dan Walters more playing time. Besides, they’ve used five different players in left field this season without much success.

“I know I can play the position,” Santiago said, “ but there’s no way. My position is being behind home plate. Why would you want an All-Star catcher in left field anyway?

“If they want a left fielder, they should trade for one.”

The Padres indeed could be making wholesale changes the second half. They’re trying Jim Deshaies in the starting rotation today. They’ve placed catcher Dann Bilardello on waivers. Who knows what’s next?

“I think we’re all waiting for the All-Star break to get here,” Gwynn said. “It couldn’t happen soon enough.”

If nothing else, the Padres know they can temporarily forget their troubles and focus on the All-Star game. It will be McGriff and Sheffield’s first All-Star game, and Fernandez will be one of the few to play as a member of the National League and American League teams.

“I’ve got a lot of people coming,” McGriff said. “My family have waited a long time for this. Now, no matter what happens, I can always say I was an All-Star.”

Said Gwynn: “I think half of the stands will be filled with my family and friends. I bought 40 tickets for the game. It’s going to be so special playing in your hometown.

“Man, I can’t wait.”