One Way or Another, Hitchcock Knew He Would Get a Start

The decision to bring Kevin Brown back on three days’ rest in Game 3 did not disturb San Diego left-hander Sterling Hitchcock, who was bumped to Game 4 today.

“For me,” he said, “starting Game 3 or Game 4 is just a number. We couldn’t be here without Brownie. He gives us our best chance to win tonight, and I see this as a pivotal game for both sides to go ahead two games to one and not being down one and being forced to win the rest.”

Hitchcock (9-7) turned an ankle two weeks ago, missed a start and is still not 100%. He thinks, however, the missed start gave him extra time to work on his rhythm and tempo and that he could be better because of it. His approach?

“My approach is to win,” he said. “That approach doesn’t change if it’s Game 3, Game 4, day game, night game or anything. It doesn’t matter to me if we start at 4:30 [which today’s game will] or 1. It gives me more time to wake up and get the cobwebs out, but I’m not a big believer in the shadows. If I had to rely on shadows to get people out, I don’t think I would be here.”

*

One key factor in the Padres’ late-season offensive struggle (they were 9-15 in September and scored only six runs in the first two games at Houston) continues to be the frequent absence of first baseman Wally Joyner, who has been hampered by tendinitis near his left shoulder.

Joyner batted .280, drove in 80 runs and ranked second in the major leagues with an average of .412 with runners in scoring position, collecting 49 hits in 119 at-bats. Only Bob Abreu of Philadelphia, at .427, had a higher average.

Joyner did not start Game 1, did start Game 2, but did not start Game 3, as Manager Bruce Bochy employed the right-handed-hitting Jim Leyritz at first base against left-hander Mike Hampton.

Joyner batted .307 against left-handers this year, Bochy explained, so the decision was dictated more by Joyner’s injury than anything.

“I wouldn’t hesitate using Wally defensively or as a pinch-hitter, but he’s still not 100% and Leyritz has been playing great,” Bochy said.

The manager faces another decision today because Leyritz is Hitchcock’s regular catcher--a relationship created when they were teammates with the New York Yankees. Bochy said he would wait to get a reading on Joyner’s condition before deciding on his first baseman.

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HOUSTON’S RANDY JOHNSON

(10-1, 1.28)

vs.

PADRES’ STERLING HITCHCOCK

(9-7, 3.93)

Site--Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

Time--4:30 p.m., Channel 11

* Update--If the Astros had won Saturday, Jose Lima would have pitched today, with Johnson saved for Monday.