Braves Prepared for Party : Baseball: Their 2-1 victory in 10 innings over the Padres moves them closer to NL West title.

Champagne sits unopened in the corner of the Atlanta Braves’ clubhouse. The Braves have been lugging it throughout their California trip, preparing for the celebration when they clinch the National League West.

The dusty bottles will be heading home with them, but after their 2-1, 10-inning victory Saturday night over the Padres at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, they know the corks soon will be popped.

The victory reduced the Braves’ magic number to three for clinching the division.

Atlanta left fielder Lonnie Smith, considered one of the best clutch hitters, drove in the game-winning run with a two-out single to center off reliever Gene Harris.

“We can’t sit back and expect the Reds to lose,” Smith said. “If we want to continue to play well, and go into the playoffs and play well, then we better start playing well ourselves.”

Cincinnati finally did lose earlier in the day, ending its nine-game winning streak. It gives the Braves a 5 1/2-game lead with eight games remaining.

“Things have been getting a little too close for comfort,” said Braves pitcher Charlie Leibrandt. “Maybe guys are feeling the pressure, I don’t know. I think guys thought we’d have it clinched by now, and we’re frustrated it hasn’t happened.

“Last year, it was a case where we had to win almost every day down the stretch. Maybe the urgency isn’t there.

“We just haven’t been playing well at all the last couple of weeks.”

The Braves (92-62) had lost seven of their last 11 games and appeared a bit uncomfortable. They called a players-only meeting before the game in an attempt to halt their skid.

They had seemingly locked up the division race 10 days ago, but their 10-game lead dwindled to 4 1/2 games after Friday’s defeat. Prolonging the division race was not what they had in mind.

“I wish we could hurry and wrap this thing up,” said John Schuerholz, Atlanta general manager. “We’d like to get the regulars refreshed before the playoffs, and make some decisions on our playoff roster.

“I don’t think anyone is enjoying this.”

Compare this with to last season, when the Braves knocked off the Dodgers. They were the first National League team ever to go from last to first.

“We came out of nowhere, and there was no pressure on us,” Leibrandt said. “We won the division, and if we had lost in the playoffs to Pittsburgh, it would have been acceptable.

“I’ve got the feeling now that anything less than going to the World Series would be considered a failure.

“Maybe even not winning the World Series would be failure in a lot of people’s eyes.”

For the first time in a decade, there is pressure on the Braves to win. They have raised expectations.The euphoria that surrounded them last year is gone.

They want a championship.

“In this day and age, winning a division might be the most difficult thing to do,” Schuerholz said. “It’s difficult to repeat in ths industry. If we just win the division, it should be a great accomplishment.

“But I also know our club is confident it can do more. Winning the (pennant) last year gave us a much more confident aura (around) it this year.”

Said Padre Manager Jim Riggleman: “You can tell they’re fired up. They have something to accomplish.”

The Padres gave the Braves absolute fits before losing Saturday.

Padre center fielder Darrin Jackson was a one-man nuisance. He robbed Terry Pendleton of a run-scoring double in the fifth inning, and then turned around in the sixth and took away a two-run home run from Brian Hunter.

The Padres had two hits off Atlanta starter Pete Smith in the first inning, and never managed another the next seven innings he pitched. Little wonder why the Braves are 10-0 in games he has started this season.

Still, the Padres managed to take a 1-1 tie into the ninth. Padre starter Jim Deshaies limited the Braves to six hits and one unearned run through the first six innings. The only run off Deshaies came in the third.

With two outs, Jeff Blauser singled to left. Terry Pendleton followed with a sharp grounder that deflected off Deshaies to second baseman Kurt Stillwell. But Stillwell threw the ball away, allowing Blauser to third.

That brought up Lonnie Smith, and he bunted to the left side of the pitcher’s mound. Deshaies charged, and threw to first, but it skipped in the dirt. Smith was safe, and Blauser scored the tying run.

No team threatened again until the 10th inning. With one out, Jeff Blauser hit a double off the left field wall. Reliever Rich Rodriguez retired Pendleton on a line drive to right, and then was removed for right-handed reliever Harris.

Lonnie Smith, who’s batting .328 with 17 RBIs in his last 17 starts, slapped a single to center. Jackson quickly retrieved the ball, and made a perfect throw to the plate, and Blauser just beat the tag by catcher Tom Lampkin.

“That was textbook execution on everybody’s part,” Riggleman said. “The throw, Lampkin blocking the plate, and the runner’s slide. Everybody did everything right.”

Said Smith: “That hit was a godsend.”

Said Cox: “Hey, San Diego was the one club that scared me from Day 1. Now, you can see why.

“They’re playing good ball now, and you can tell that Riggleman has the chance to be a good one. Just the way he carries himself, he acts like a manager.

“But we’ve got to get ourselves going. We’ve got to kick it in gear and get this thing over with.”

That day could come as early as Tuesday.

“It’s about time,” Pendleton said, smiling.

Triple Crown Watch Batting Average Gary Sheffield, Padres: .329 Andy Van Slyke, Pittsburgh: .326 Bip Roberts, Cincinnati: .325 Home Runs Fred McGriff, Padres: 34 Gary Sheffield, Padres: 33 Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh: 32 Runs Batted In Darren Daulton, Philadelphia: 105 Terry Pendleton, Atlanta: 102 Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh: 100 Gary Sheffield, Padres: 99