Money Can’t Buy Brown Any Runs

They might have understood had he signed with the Braves, the Rockies or even the Yankees.

Padre fans probably would have forgiven pitcher Kevin Brown for leaving San Diego for those teams. But the Dodgers?

San Diegans were finished with Brown the moment he accepted Rupert Murdoch’s millions and private jet to change his work address to Chavez Ravine, turning their backs on the guy who led the Padres to the 1998 National League pennant.

And they showed him how much the relationship has changed in the Padres’ 3-0 victory Friday night at Qualcomm Stadium.

Brown (1-1) wasn’t around to see the end, being removed after 6 1/3 innings to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd of 48,943. Andy Ashby (2-1), whom Brown helped tutor by example last season, outperformed his mentor, tossing a five-hitter and striking out eight.

Incomparable Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn continued his pursuit of 3,000 hits. Gwynn went three for four to increase his hit total to 2,945 in 16-plus seasons, moving ahead of Frank Robinson into 24th place on the all-time major league list.

Brown was booed when his named was announced in the opening lineup, and throughout the game. And the Padre organization played money-themed songs over the public-address system.

It was a night of fun for the Padres at Brown’s expense.

“You hear ‘em, but I don’t really give it much thought,” said Brown, who gave up 10 hits and three runs--two earned--with nine strikeouts and a walk.

“It’s no different playing in Atlanta or Houston during the playoffs [with the Padres] last season. People boo, that’s just part of the game.”

But not typically like they did Friday.

The crowd became frenzied when Brown was chased with one out in the seventh after a run-scoring double by Wally Joyner gave the Padres a 3-0 lead. As the Macon, Ga., resident stoically walked off the field, the crowd booed and waived goodbye while Gladys Knight and the Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia” blared through speakers.

By the time Brown disappeared into the Dodger dugout, Qualcomm was rocking like it did in October.

The fans didn’t appreciate Brown jumping ship and signing a record-setting, $105-million contract, including unprecedented perks, with the Dodgers. Brown spurned the Padres’ six-year, $60-million offer and he realized what awaited him Friday.

“That’s their prerogative, and I can’t do anything about that,” said Brown, who faced his former team Friday because Manager Davey Johnson bumped everyone in the starting rotation back a day after a rainout Sunday at Dodger Stadium. “I’m sure it’s been played up to the hilt this week. So no, I’m not surprised.”

The evening began with the Beatles’ “Money Can’t Buy Me Love,” setting the anti-Brown tone. From that point, the Padres performed like money players.

San Diego staked Ashby to a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by leadoff batter Quilvio Veras. Veras hit a towering fly ball to center, and Devon White’s throw was high as Dave Magadan scored easily from third.

The Padres were finally able to break through against Brown, who had thrown 12 2/3 scoreless innings over his last two starts to that point.

And the way Ashby was pitching, that run was more than enough.

Gwynn set the table for San Diego’s second run in the sixth. Gwynn led off the inning with a double down the right-field line.

With one out and the infield in, John Vander Wal singled through the middle, scoring Gwynn to give San Diego a 2-0 lead. That sparked chants of “Beat L.A., Beat L.A.”

At that moment, Johnson knew his team was in trouble.

“He was just outstanding,” Johnson said of Ashby, who had his fourth career shutout. “That was the best I’ve ever seen him pitch. Andy Ashby was the story, case closed.”

Was Ashby especially pumped for the encounter against Brown?

“He probably was,” Johnson said. “You’re going to have to take it up to a higher level against Brownie.”

The Padre fans did too.