McGriff’s Bat Directs Sweep of Cubs

CHICAGO —  In what might be the greatest season by a power hitter in Padre history, it’s almost as if Fred McGriff should feel guilty.

It happened again Sunday as the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-1, for their first three-game sweep at Wrigley Field in 10 years.

McGriff hit his league-leading 34th homer, drove in two runs and then faced the questions:

Fred, how do you feel about ruining Gary Sheffield’s chance at the triple crown?

Fred, if you’ve got the home run lead the last week, do you think you’ll just sit out to give Sheffield a chance at the triple crown.

Fred, how about if you play the final week, and just go for singles instead of homers?

“I can’t believe some of the things people have been asking me,” McGriff said. “They really think I should take the last week off so Gary can get it. Or they think I can actually control whether I can keep from hitting homers and just make them hits.

“This triple-crown stuff has got a lot of people crazy.”

Amid all the talk about Sheffield and a triple crown, McGriff is being cast as the villain should Sheffield fall short.

“That’s the crazy thing,” Sheffield said. “Everybody’s been talking about what I’ve been doing so much they’ve forgotten about Fred. He’s a big reason why I’m having the season I am, knowing they can’t pitching around me.

“But you look at the year he’s having, and it’s been unbelievable. He deserves the recognition more than I do. I’ve never see anyone do what he can do.”

McGriff is on a home run tear, hitting three in the last four games, and seven in the last 12. His 34 homers are the most by a Padre since Dave Winfield in 1979, and is only four shy of the franchise record set by Nate Colbert.

McGriff could become the first Padre to win two-thirds of the triple crown. He leads Sheffield by five home runs, and is third in RBIs (91), behind Darren Daulton (94) and Sheffield (92).

“No one’s paying much attention to me,” McGriff said, “but that’s OK. I’ll just go out and play, hit my homers, run around the bases, and go into the dugout. That’s my style.”

Equally quietly, the Padres (73-62) are hanging around in the division race. They have won four consecutive road games and are seven games behind Atlanta.

The only down note is starter Bruce Hurst will miss a minimum of one start because of an inflamed rotator cuff. The Padres recalled rookie Frank Seminara from triple-A Las Vegas to start tonight, and might have to bring up journeyman Mark Knudson to pitch Tuesday.

On Sunday, the Padres were tied 1-1 in the eighth inning with one out and Darrin Jackson on first base. Tim Teufel was facing right-hander Jim Bullinger when Padre Manager Greg Riddoch called for the hit-and-run.

It worked.

Teufel hit a routine grounder to the left side of the infield, but Cub shortstop Jeff Kunkel broke to cover second base, allowing the ball to roll into left field.

“It was the perfect time to use the hit-and-run,” Teufel said. “Don’t give me the credit, it was (Riddoch’s) call.”

The move left the Padres with runners on first and third, and with starter Andy Benes due up, Riddoch used left-handed pinch-hitter Oscar Azocar. There was no need for Azocar to worry about facing a left-handed reliever. Cub Manager Jim Lefebvre had no one warming up until Azocar stepped to the plate.

Azocar drove Bullinger’s pitch into deep center for a sacrifice fly that proved to be the game winner. McGriff added an RBI in the ninth inning after Tony Gwynn’s leadoff double.

Randy Myers pitched the ninth, retiring the side on five pitches for his career-high 32nd save. It also preserved the victory for Benes (11-12), who yielded only five hits and one run in seven innings.

Despite McGriff’s performance, the triple crown watch continues. Sheffield, who played Sunday after missing the last 1 1/2 games because of a strained hamstring, was one for three in the game, keeping his batting average at .333.

Could the triple crown race be over?

“Hey, this just gives me a nice bulge before we get back to San Diego,” McGriff said. “Gary and San Diego get along pretty good. He hits them there, so nothing’s safe.”

Triple Crown Watch

Batting Average Gary Sheffield, Padres: .333 Andy Van Slyke, Pittsburgh: .330 John Kruk, Philadelphia: .321 *

Home Runs Fred McGriff, Padres: 34 Gary Sheffield, Padres: 29 Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh: 27 *

Runs Batted In Darren Daulton, Philadelphia: 94 Gary Sheffield, Padres: 92 Fred McGriff, Padres: 91