Padres split four with Cubs.

San Diego Stadium,

Game 1,

Sipin goes deep.

San Diego scored three runs during the 3rd inning; that would be all they would need to upend the visiting Cubbies.  Nate Colbert smashed a single past first to plate the initial Padre tally that evened the game at 1.  Cito Gaston grounded a basehit between short and third to score Colbert and Tony Gonzalez.  Gary Ross was the starter and winner for San Diego as he pitched 7 innings while scattering 8 hits to up his record at 1-4. The loser for Chicago was former Padre Dick Selma (2-1). Jack Baldschun collected his 3rd save of the year. Padres 3...Cubs 1.

Game 2,

Dick Kelley was on top of his game for San Diego. Kelly pitched a complete game shutout as the upstart Padres breezed past the Cubs 3-0.  Both teams were only able to muster 4 hits each but the home town team made good use of their safeties.  Young San
Diego second sacker, John Sipin hit his first homerun of the season in the sixth inning with a runner on base to up the Padre lead to 3-0. Sipin's homerun was a low liner that made it just over the 17 foot fence, caromed off the seats in the first row and bounced back on the field.  Kenny Holtzman was the hard luck loser for Chicago as he falls to 4-6 on the season. Padres 3...Cubs 0.

Game 3,

1st game of DH
Bill Hands was too much for the young Padre batters as he returned the favor of shutting out the San Diego club.  Hands only allowed three hits as he improves to 4-6. Joe Niekro took the loss for San Diego to sink to 3-2.  Cubs 4....Padres 0.

Nye cools Friar's bats.

Game 4,

2nd game of DH

Jim Hickman hit a boomering homerun in a 4 run 5th inning for Chicago. Hickman's mammoth shot went nearly 420 feet and it even drew admiration from his opponents.  Centerfielder Cito Gaston lamented, "I did not even have to move. I knew it was out. I just turned around to see how far it would travel."  Rich Nye went the distance for Chicago to move to 2-0. The loss was hung on veteran lefty Johnny Podres (1-4). Podres was not sharp as the Cub hitters tagged him for seven earned runs on 10 hits through only 5 innings. Cubs 7...Padres 1.