Game #3
Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres
Whitson Silences Cubs Bats in 3-2 Padres Victory
By Dan Sheridan | Tribune Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO — The Chicago Cubs' West Coast road trip hit a snag Saturday night as they ran into a red-hot San Diego Padres team and an even hotter right arm in Ed Whitson. The Padres remained undefeated on the young season, edging the Cubs 3-2 at Jack Murphy Stadium behind eight strong innings from their veteran right-hander.
Whitson (1-0) stifled the Cubs offense, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking none. Goose Gossage slammed the door in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.
The Cubs, now 2-2, had little answer for San Diego’s early offensive burst. Steve Trout (0-1), making his first start of the season, was tagged for three runs in a rough first inning that proved to be the difference.
“I let the game get away from me early,” Trout said. “Against a team like that, you can’t afford to fall behind. They make you pay.”
The damage came quickly. After a leadoff walk to Luis Salazar and a single by Alan Wiggins, Tony Gwynn drove a two-run triple into the right-field gap. Steve Garvey followed with a double down the line to plate Gwynn and give the Padres a 3-0 cushion just four batters into the game.
Trout settled in after the first, but the Cubs offense couldn’t recover. Chicago’s only runs came in the fourth when Ron Cey launched a two-run homer into the left-field bleachers off Whitson, scoring Bill Buckner.
Despite a few scattered hits—including two from Gary Matthews—the Cubs never truly threatened again. They stranded six runners and failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities with men in scoring position.
Cey’s blast was his first of the season, and though it briefly energized the Cubs dugout, Whitson returned to form and retired 12 of the final 15 batters he faced.
“He mixed his pitches well and hit his spots,” Cubs manager Jim Frey said of Whitson. “We had a couple chances, but just couldn’t get the big hit.”
Meanwhile, Gwynn led the way for the Padres, going 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and a run scored. Garvey added a double and an RBI, raising his season average to .562.
Relievers Rich Bordi and Tim Stoddard kept the Cubs in the game with three scoreless innings of relief, but the damage was done early. Gossage worked a clean ninth despite a one-out single from pinch-runner Bob Dernier, who stole second but was stranded when Larry Bowa and pinch-hitter Keith Moreland both failed to bring him home.
The Cubs will look to salvage the series Sunday afternoon with Dick Ruthven scheduled to take the mound against San Diego’s Andy Hawkins.
Game Notes:
Player of the Game: Ed Whitson (8 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K)
Attendance at Jack Murphy Stadium was not announced.
The Padres outhit the Cubs 11-8 and left 10 runners on base.
Goose Gossage threw 15 pitches, 11 for strikes, in the ninth.
The game lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes under partly cloudy skies and a light breeze.
Next Game:
Sunday, April 8 – Cubs (2-2) at Padres (4-0), 1:05 p.m. PT
League Notes
Jack Morris throws a three hit shutout to beat the White Sox.