Hershiser Completely Satisfied : Dodgers: He goes the distance for the first time in nearly three years and beats the Padres, 4-1.

Orel Hershiser kept saying his arm was getting stronger. Through loss after loss he said it, building a rather unconvincing case as his followers nodded obligingly.

Sure it is, Orel.

Hershiser brought a record of 1-6 in his last nine starts to Sunday’s game, not much to show for a comeback that began more than two years ago when he underwent reconstructive shoulder surgery.

But in an effort that should help quiet the whispers, Hershiser silenced the San Diego Padres with a 4-1 complete-game victory before 35,399 at Dodger Stadium.

It was Hershiser’s first complete game since Aug. 18, 1989, when he went the distance against the New York Mets.

Sunday will be remembered as a major milestone on the long road back from April 27, 1990, when Frank Jobe repaired Hershiser’s right shoulder with a never-before attempted surgical procedure.

When Darrin Jackson lined out to left field to end the game, it was enough to make Hershiser jump for joy on the mound. It was the 59th complete game of his career, but it had been a long time since No. 58.

Hershiser, who improved to 8-9, gave up five hits and retired the last 13. He made only 103 pitches.

Padre left-hander Jim Deshaies (1-2), who recently had worked his way back from the minors, gave up two runs in six innings.

“Some guys thought I was covering up or lying because I was getting bad results,” Hershiser said of his slump. “I was trying to tell you guys the truth, that I was getting stronger, and I was having trouble with control because I wasn’t used to throwing many fastballs and my ball wasn’t sinking.”

Hershiser had no such problems against the Padres, striking out three and walking none. Before Sunday, Hershiser had not gone more than seven innings in a start since June 20, when he pitched eight innings in a loss to Houston.

Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda recently told Hershiser that his rehabilitation days were over.

“Pretty soon, you’ve got to go the distance,” Lasorda told Hershiser. “That’s important for us, not only for this year, but thinking about next year ,too.”

Hershiser gave up a run during the fifth inning when shortstop Tony Fernandez singled home Kurt Stillwell with two out.

The Dodgers, who won three of four games from the Padres in the series, gave Hershiser all he would need during the second on consecutive run-scoring singles by Todd Benzinger and Carlos Hernandez. Eric Karros added a two-run double during the ninth.

Hershiser completed the game against the heart of a batting order that included Tony Gwynn (.310 average), Gary Sheffield (.328, 19 home runs) and Fred McGriff (.303, 21 homers).

During the third, Hershiser struck out Gwynn swinging. Gwynn had struck out only 11 times in his last 388 at-bats.

The only one not impressed by Hershiser’s performance was Padre Manager Greg Riddoch.

“I don’t think he had his best stuff today,” Riddoch said. “I think we helped him out by swinging at bad pitches.”

Said Gwynn: “Greg wasn’t up there hitting, obviously. Hershiser wasn’t overpowering, but he’s still smart. He knows what pitches to throw, location, angles. Regardless of whether he’s pitching like he was in 1988, you still have to give him some credit.”

Hershiser is still a long way from 1988, his Cy Young Award season. But perhaps not as far as everyone thought.