Padres Turn Jeer to Cheer : Baseball: Fans boo Santiago heartily in his return. Jerald Clark delivers game-winning hit in 11th for 3-2 decision over Phillies.

The boos reverberated throughout Jack Murphy Stadium the moment he left the on-deck circle Saturday afternoon. Padre catcher Benito Santiago gingerly walked toward the plate, glanced toward the crowd and smiled.

Ah, to be home again.

It was a special treat for the 11,775 fans, who were able to feast on their favorite prey and still celebrate the Padres’ 3-2, 11-inning victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Jerald Clark, entering the game in the eighth inning for the injured Tony Gwynn, drove in the game-winner with a one-out single into the left-center gap, easily scoring Oscar Azocar from second base. It was the Padres’ third consecutive victory over Philadelphia, and it ended their five-game losing streak in extra-inning games.

Reliever Tim Scott (2-1), in his finest performance of the season and the longest outing of his career, allowed only one hit in the final three innings for the victory. El Cajon native Mike Hartley (4-4) was the losing pitcher in the Phillies’ seventh consecutive defeat.

“It was great to be back again,” Santiago said. “You don’t know how nice it is. I could have used a nine-inning game, but, hey, I’m back in business. Now, I want to help this team win.”

Santiago, out since May 30 when he broke the little finger on his right hand, threw out Dave Hollins on a stolen-base attempt in the 11th inning. It was the only time the crowd cheered for him.

He was hitless in five at-bats. He popped up to first, flied out to center twice and struck out in his final two at-bats.

The boos were louder with each at-bat. Santiago remained oblivious.

“I’ve gotten used to that now,” Santiago said. “It’s no big deal. I can’t let them get me down. It’s not like it’s new or anything.”

The fans, mad at Santiago this spring when he asked to be traded, now taunted him for his refusal to play left field. The Padres were hoping Santiago would play left field once or twice a week to provide rookie catcher Dan Walters playing time. Santiago spurned the idea.

“If they think they’re going to put him behind home plate and me in left field,” Santiago said, “well, it’s not going to happen. There’s no way I’m going to play that position. Either put me behind the plate or give me the day off.”

Apparently, it will be the latter. Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said that Walters, who hit .277 with three homers and 17 RBIs in Santiago’s absence, will catch at least two days a week.

“We told him, ‘Hey, if you don’t want to play left field, it’s up to you,’ ” Riddoch said. “I gave him the opportunity to play every day. He chose the alternative not to play left field.

“I can’t worry about it. I have to look at the situation and do what I think is right for the team. I can’t just shut out the kid (Walters). He’s done a great job for us.

“Benny’s a free agent, and we understand he’s looking for about $5 million a year. We can’t afford that. Dan Walters may be our catcher of the future.”

Santiago shrugged. He wants to continue playing every day as he did before his injury. Yet he also realizes it’s useless to gripe. He’s going to be gone in three months anyway as a free agent, if he isn’t traded first.

Santiago, who hopes to be playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York or Miami next year, fully expects to be making his final All-Star appearance in a Padre uniform.

“I’m going to wear that uniform proudly,” Santiago said. “The fans should be proud, too. If they boo me or cheer for me, it doesn’t matter. I’ll be happy, anyway.”

It was another newcomer to the lineup Saturday who inflicted pain on the Phillies.

Tim Teufel, who has been used primarily this season as a utility player, single-handedly prevented Phillie starter Kyle Abbott (0-11) from winning his first game of the season by hitting homers in back-to-back at-bats. He came into the game with only two home runs in 134 at-bats.

Abbott allowed only six hits and two earned runs in seven innings. He struck out Fred McGriff three times and didn’t allow a hit to six of the other hitters in the lineup. But he couldn’t escape Teufel’s wrath.

Teufel broke open a scoreless game in the second inning when he slammed a 3-and-1 pitch over the left-center field wall. You’d think Abbott would have learned his lesson when Teufel walked to the plate again in the fourth inning.

But once again, Abbott fell behind, 3-and-1, to Teufel.

Once again, Abbott tried to slip a fastball past Teufel.

Once again, Abbott watched it fly over the left-center field fence.

It was the fourth two-homer game by Teufel, but his first since July 5, 1987 against Cincinnati pitcher Tom Browning in Riverfront Stadium.

“When you’re in a role like I am,” Teufel said, “sometimes it’s a crapshoot at to which person is going to show up that day. But I figure, hey, if Mariano Duncan can do it. . . .”

Teufel’s heroics leave Abbott without that precious victory this season. He remains only one defeat shy of setting a franchise record for consecutive defeats at the start of the season.

“I can’t believe he hasn’t won yet,” Teufel said. “There’s some awfully good hitters in the lineup he gave trouble to.”

Gwynn was able to obtain his first three-hit game since June 27 but was forced to leave the game after the seventh inning when he pulled up lame at first base. He sustained a pulled muscle in his buttocks. It might keep him out of today’s game, but Gwynn said he’ll be ready for Tuesday’s All-Star game.

“I got out of the box just fine,” Gwynn said, “but when I was going down the line, pow! Every now and then your get a spasm and panic. But that one hurt, God did it hurt.”

Third baseman Gary Sheffield also left the game after the seventh inning when he bruised his left knee. He sustained the injury when he made a diving catch of Dale Sveum’s line drive in the fourth inning, then aggravated the injury in the seventh.

“I’ll be fine,” Sheffield said. “There’s no way I’m missing this (All-Star) game.”

Santiago has the same euphoria. He can’t wait for the All-Star game and a chance to see his old friends, most of them former teammates. In fact, Santiago has decorated his locker with baseball cards with most of the former Padres who have been shipped out of town.

“I think I’ll be next,” Santiago said.