Padres a Big Hit in Petco Opening

Sean Burroughs became the answer to a trivia question while providing a meaningful lift for the San Diego Padres on Thursday night, hitting a game-tying single in the ninth inning and a game-winning single in the 10th as the Padres opened Petco Park in memorable fashion.

Burroughs helped San Diego rally from one-run deficits in each of those innings during the Padres’ come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a jubilant sellout crowd of 41,400 that included former President Carter and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

Silver and blue streamers descended after Burroughs’ bloop single to left off David Aardsma in the 10th brought home Khalil Greene with the winning run. Burroughs also prevailed during a 13-pitch encounter with San Francisco closer Matt Herges in the ninth, sending a hanging changeup back up the middle for a single that scored Greene to make it 3-3.

Ray Durham and Marquis Grissom had appeared to mar the new ballpark’s debut before the Padres rallied. Durham hit a two-run double to the wall in left-center in the ninth to put the Giants ahead, 2-1, and Grissom smacked the first homer in Petco in the 10th to give San Francisco a 3-2 lead.

No matter. Kerry Robinson singled up the middle off Herges in the bottom of the 10th and went to second on Greene’s two-out walk. Pinch-hitter Miguel Ojeda hit a ground-rule double off Aardsma to score Robinson and set the stage for Burroughs.

Herges lamented his inability to retire the Padres in the last two innings.

“I didn’t get it done tonight,” he said. “I had two opportunities to get out of it, and I didn’t. That hurts because I let everybody down.”

San Diego starter David Wells and reliever Akinori Otsuka did not allow a runner past second base through eight innings, but closer Trevor Hoffman unraveled in the ninth by giving up two runs to give the Giants a short-lived 2-1 lead.

Hoffman, who had said before the game that it was going to take some positive experiences to make the new ballpark feel like home, issued consecutive first-pitch singles to Pedro Feliz and Michael Tucker to open the inning.

The Padres looked as if they might escape the mess after Yorvit Torrealba sacrificed the runners over to second and third and shortstop Greene nailed pinch-runner Cody Ransom at the plate on pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski’s grounder. But Durham quieted the crowd with his two-run double.

Wells became the third consecutive member of the Yankees’ 2003 rotation to keep Bonds stuck on home run No. 659. Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros were up to the task Tuesday and Wednesday, and it was Wells’ turn Thursday.

Pitching in his hometown for the first time as a Padre, Wells delivered a masterful four-hit performance over seven innings, holding Bonds hitless in three at-bats -- with a huge assist from center fielder Jay Payton. After popping up in the second inning and losing a footrace with second baseman Mark Loretta to first base in the fourth, Bonds sent a deep drive to center field in the sixth.

Payton raced back and made a leaping grab near the top of the wall, earning an extended ovation from fans that heartily booed Bonds during pregame introductions and before every at-bat.

Bonds drew an intentional walk in the eighth and flied out to shallow right in the 10th.

Bonds still needs one home run to tie his godfather, Willie Mays, for third on the all-time list. The next time Bonds homers, Mays is expected to walk out of the Giant dugout and hand him the torch Mays carried before the 2002 Winter Olympics. The torch is encrusted with diamonds that form the number 660.

The fanfare for a ballpark six years in the making was befitting a playoff game. Carter threw out one of three first pitches to Padre owner John Moores -- a strike -- and gave the ballpark an endorsement, saying it “has more character than any new park I have seen.”

Selig toured the park before the game and said it was “better than I thought it would be. It’s outstanding.” The Padres have already made a pitch to play host to an All-Star game in a park that features Wrigley Field-style rooftop bleachers above the historic redbrick Western Metal Supply Co. building that sits directly down the left-field line.

San Diego General Manager Kevin Towers said the hope is that the dazzling new park generates additional revenue to improve the club but knows there’s no guarantee.

“Seattle and San Francisco won early with new ballparks, and there was a carryover effect,” Towers said.

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Power Company

Barry Bonds needs one home run to tie Willie Mays on the career home run list. A look (x-active):

*--* Player No. 1. Hank Aaron 755 2. Babe Ruth 714 3. Willie Mays 660 4. x-Barry Bonds 659 5. Frank Robinson 586 6. Mark McGwire 583 7. Harmon Killebrew 573 8. Reggie Jackson 563 9. Mike Schmidt 548 10. x-Sammy Sosa 540

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