Even Padres Aren’t Perfect as Dodgers Get Off the Mat

They’ve moved in opposite directions from the start, reversing roles from a season ago.

The San Diego Padres have grown accustomed to first place in the National League West, rebuilding quickly after finishing last in 1997. The Dodgers have undergone a radical make-over, sliding down the division ladder in the process.

It has been the best of times for the Padres, even though the Dodgers came away with a 4-3 victory Thursday afternoon at Qualcomm Stadium.

“The Padres are a good team, and we’re obviously not in the position they are,” said second baseman Eric Young, who scored the Dodgers’ first run after ending Kevin Brown’s bid for a perfect game in the seventh inning.

“There have been a lot of changes over here [in the Dodger clubhouse], and everyone knows what we’ve been through this year. We all want to be [in first place], but that’s not the way things have gone for us. This is baseball, anyone can have a down year, but you keep going out and doing your job because you’re professionals.”

They got the job done Thursday under difficult circumstances.

Brown dazzled a crowd of 26,018, retiring the first 18 batters. Brown--among the leading candidates for the NL Cy Young Award--had thrown only 67 pitches before the seventh, overpowering and befuddling the frustrated Dodgers.

The Padres led, 3-0, at that point against Dodger starter Chan Ho Park, and it appeared that San Diego would have another entry for its lengthy highlight tape of the season. And that the Dodgers would have another restless night.

“He was definitely on,” said third baseman Bobby Bonilla, who drove in the first two runs against Brown. “That was as good as I’ve seen any pitcher throw in the big leagues ever.

“He was dealing and he was tough. It’s never easy, and with the year they’re having, they expect to win those types of games.”

But even in the worst of times for the Dodgers, they’ve occasionally outperformed superior opponents.

Leadoff batter Young opened the seventh by reaching second on what was ruled a two-base throwing error by third baseman George Arias. It appeared that Young should have been credited with the first hit of the game on his chopper to third.

After Trenidad Hubbard walked, Eric Karros broke up the no-hitter when he beat Arias’ throw to first on his high chopper. Then on a full-count fastball, Bonilla crushed a pitch from Brown off the scoreboard in right field for a long single, scoring Young and Hubbard to cut the Padres’ lead to 3-2.

With two out in the inning, the Dodgers took a 4-3 lead when Karros and Bonilla scored on Mark Grudzielanek’s single to left. That was enough for Park (13-8) and two relievers.

Park gave up five hits and three runs in seven innings. He struck out 10 and overcame a career-high seven walks.

Scott Radinsky struck out the side in the eighth, and closer Jeff Shaw did the same in the ninth to earn his 42nd save, completing the Dodgers’ third victory in a row. They moved three games above .500 at 75-72.

Brown (18-6) pitched a complete game, giving up three hits and four runs--one earned. He walked one and matched his career high with 11 strikeouts. The Padres (92-55), who have never had a no-hitter, lost for the third time in four games, and their magic number to clinch the division championship remained at four.

“We know what type of team they are, so it’s important for us to come here and show something,” Manager Glenn Hoffman said. “They’re the best now, and you want to measure yourself against them.”

That wasn’t the story last season.

The Padres (76-86) finished fourth in the then four-team division. The Dodgers (88-74) finished second, two games behind the San Francisco Giants, missing the playoffs.

The Padres addressed their needs in the off-season. The Dodgers?

“We were unable, for whatever reason, to add the players we needed,” Karros said. “And look at what the Padres did. They went out and got Brown, and you can see the difference he has made.

“Maybe that was a payroll thing, but Kevin Brown is obviously a great acquisition. We can only hope we’re in San Diego’s position next year.”

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NL West Race

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NL WEST ON SEPT. 11, 1997 Team Record Pct. GB San Francisco 82-65 .558 -- Dodgers 81-66 .551 1 Colorado 75-72 .510 7 San Diego 69-78 .469 13 NL WEST ON SEPT. 11, 1998 Team Record Pct. GB San Diego 92-55 .626 -- San Francisco 79-67 .541 12 1/2 Dodgers 75-72 .510 17 Colorado 70-78 .473 22 1/2 Arizona 58-89 .395 34

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