Padres Lose, Slip Further Out of Contention : Baseball: NL East-leading Pirates pick up 3-2 victory. Padres lose fourth in a row.

Pirate left fielder Barry Bonds couldn’t keep his eyes off them. It was as if he had an urge to tear off his uniform Wednesday night, duck into a clubhouse, and join the Padres in mid-game.

While Bonds reiterated his desire to join the Padres as a free agent, the fact of the matter is that even if they were united today, it still would be too late to help the Padres this season.

The Padres dropped their fourth consecutive game, 3-2, to the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.

The Padres (64-56), who have played only three games above .500 since April 15, fell to a season-high 10 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves, and 11 in the loss column.

“We’re in that mode now where we need a miracle,” said Padre starter Jim Deshaies (3-3), who yielded three earned runs in six innings. “There was the ’69 Mets, the ’78 Yankees and the ’51 Giants. Since baseball runs in cycles, we’re due for another miracle, aren’t we?

“But if you look at the reality of the situation, the numbers are pretty gloomy.”

Even Padre Manager Greg Riddoch, for the first time this season, conceded that the pennant race has left them behind as spectators for yet another season.

“When you’re (10) games out,” Riddoch said, “you’re not in the middle of the pennant race. Being two games out is the middle of the pennant race. We’re just trying to finish out the best we can.”

Considering the way the Pirates (68-52) are playing, both National League division races could be virtually over by Labor Day. While the Braves have jumped out to a season-high 6 1/2-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates have moved four games in front of the Montreal Expos.

“You can see the difference,” Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield said. “It’s like those guys are so focused, so pumped up for every at-bat. We’re not like that anymore.

“Man, it’s become tough, really tough.”

The Padres could muster only one run off Bob Walk (12-7) in seven innings, courtesy of Benito Santiago’s second-inning homer. Although they were a single away from tying the game in the ninth, they had the dubious distinction of being shut down by retread Danny Cox for his first career save.

The Padres blew a bases-loaded situation in the second inning, and couldn’t even advance a runner to third base after two leadoff doubles, thanks in part to the Pirates’ brilliant defense.

“They were like a highlight film out there,” Riddoch said. “They played the game like the first-place club they are.”

The man who makes it all possible, of course, wears No. 24 for the Pirates. His name is Barry Bonds.

He also wants so badly to sign with the Padres that he might resort to begging on chairman Tom Werner’s doorstep during the winter.

“Can you imagine me with that team?” said Bonds, the 1990 MVP, who’s batting .290 with 20 homers and 67 RBIs this season. “Can you see me batting between Gary (Sheffield) and Fred (McGriff)? My God, what a lineup. What a team.

“Man, I’d love to join Sheff over there. We were tight when he was with Milwaukee, and we’ve become best of friends.”

In fact, the way Bonds sees it, he’d be teaming up with the 1992 National League’s Most Valuable Player. Oh, he might be a candidate this year, along with Brave third baseman Terry Pendleton, but Bonds says the choice is clear.

“There’s no doubt to me that Sheffield should get it,” Bonds said, “because that boy can do it all. I don’t care if me and Terry do get to the playoffs. If that guy has a chance to win the triple crown, and doesn’t get the MVP, I’ll come and shoot all you reporters.

“I told (Pendleton), ‘Let’s do ourselves a favor. We’ll take the MVP in the playoffs and World Series, and we’ll let Gary have it in the season.’ ”

The Padres have already declared that they won’t enter the free-agent bidding for Bonds. The most popular theory is that he’ll end up with the Braves or the New York Yankees.

The Braves, according to sources, will make a bid for Bonds if they’re able to trade David Justice. The Yankees are hoping to trade their top hitting prospects for Angel pitcher Jim Abbott, then sign Bonds.

“I’m going to leave all that stuff up to my agent (Dennis Gilbert),” Bonds said, “but really, I’m willing to go anywhere. I’ll play in Seattle, I don’t care. Send me to South Africa.

“I don’t mind going to a rebuilding team, but I just don’t want to somewhere where I’m the only guy. I want to be one of 25 guys, just like I am here.

“I’ve seen what’s happened to Darryl (Strawberry), Reggie Jackson and even Ryne Sandberg. When things go bad, they point the fingers at you.

“I guarantee you, no matter where I go, Barry Bonds will put up the numbers, period.”

It’s unknown just what kind of money Bonds will receive in the open market. He’s widely considered the finest all-around player in the National League, and the Pirates have let it be known they probably won’t be a finalist in the bidding, either.

“I know what I have here, and I like it here,” Bonds said, “but I just don’t know if I’ll be back. If they don’t want me back, I’ll say, ‘Thank you very much for giving me the chance to play here.’

“I’ve loved playing for (Manager) Jim Leyland. He’s made me what I am, and I’ll never forget what he’s done for me. Believe me, if I have to leave here, there will be no hard feelings.”

Yet, Bonds does have one request. He wants to be remembered not only as one of the finest players in the Pirate franchise, but the greatest left fielder in the game’s history.

“When I’m done playing and retire,” Bonds said, “I want people to say he was the best. Right field belonged to Clemente. Center field belonged to Mays. I want left field to belong to me.”