Padres Defeated, but Sheffield’s a Winner : Baseball: Maddux takes loss in rain-shortened, 1-0 loss to Atlanta. Sheffield’s batting title is all but assured after Van Slyke goes one for four.

While the Padres were losing 1-0 Saturday to the Atlanta Braves in a rain-shortened, 5 1/2-inning game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, third baseman Gary Sheffield was celebrating.

Sheffield, sitting at home in St. Petersburg, Fla., with his broken finger, virtually won the National League batting title with a .330 average. He beat out Andy Van Slyke of Pittsburgh and Bip Roberts of Cincinnati. Van Slyke went one for four Saturday, and Roberts did not play.

The only way Van Slyke or Roberts could win the batting title is by going six for six today.

“It’s a great feeling,” Sheffield said, “something I’ll always treasure. I never even thought of a batting title before. You don’t see guys with power winning the batting title.

“But I always stayed consistent, and since I couldn’t get the triple crown, I’ll take this.”

Sheffield, who also hit 33 homers with 100 RBIs, becomes the second Padre player in franchise history to win a batting title, joining four-time winner Tony Gwynn. It’s also the first time since Terry Kennedy hit .284 in 1983 that Gwynn did not lead the team in hitting.

Sheffield, who earned $725,000 this season, figures to be paid handsomely for his efforts during the winter. Eligible for arbitration, Sheffield is expected to earn about $3 million next season. He can also earn an extra $100,000 if he’s voted the National League’s MVP.

While Sheffield was celebrating, Padre shortstop Tony Fernandez tied his career high by extending his hitting streak to 18 games. Fernandez went two for three, raising his batting average to .275.

But the Padres (81-80), who have lost 18 of their last 25 games, had only two others hits in the game. In fact, the only time they advanced a runner into scoring position was when Guillermo Velasquez advanced to second on Atlanta starter Charlie Leibrandt’s wild pitch.

Leibrandt (15-7), who will not start in the playoffs, yielded only three hits in five innings and extended his scoreless skein to 23 innings.

Mike Maddux (2-2), making his first start of the season for the Padres, yielded only two hits and one run in five innings. The only critical mistake he made was allowing a one-out, run-scoring single to catcher Damon Berryhill.

“I’m pleased with the effort I’ve seen,” Padre Manager Jim Riggleman said, “I don’t want them to get caught up with the fact that we lost some games at the end of the season. We’re going to be all right.”

Padre Notes

The Padres have fired Dick Williams as their pro scout and confirmed that national cross-checker Brad Sloan has resigned. Considering Williams once was Padre manager, you could say it has been the second time he has been fired by the organization.

Because this is the final day of the season, it’s time to announce the second annual Ex-Padre Players of the Year Award:

First baseman John Kruk, Philadelphia; second basemen Roberto Alomar, Toronto, and Carlos Baerga, Cleveland (tie); shortstop Ozzie Smith, St. Louis; third baseman Dave Hollins, Philadelphia; left fielder Bip Roberts, Cincinnati; center fielder Shane Mack, Minnesota; right fielder Joe Carter, Toronto; designated hitter Dave Winfield; catcher Sandy Alomar, Cleveland; starter Ricky Bones, Milwaukee; reliever Derek Lilliquist.