Did you know that the Padres once broke double digits in runs without the benefit of an extra-base hit? Yep, it happened against the Atlanta Braves at the Murph on September 20, 1985 (box score).
Garry Templeton went 4-for-4 out of the leadoff spot, scoring four runs and driving in two. Tony Gwynn added three hits and drove in four runs, as the Padres cruised to an 11-1 victory on the strength of 15 singles and 6 walks.
Right-hander LaMarr Hoyt spun five shutout innings to win his 15th game of the season. Southpaw Gene Walter worked the final four to pick up his third save.
The Padres held a 2-0 lead headed into the fourth inning. In the words of Brad Nowell, that’s when things got out of control. With Steve Bedrosian pitching, here’s how the fourth unfolded for the home team:
- Steve Garvey walked.
- Kevin McReynolds singled, Garvey to second.
- Tim Flannery singled, Garvey scored, McReynolds to second.
- LaMarr Hoyt sacrificed to third, McReynolds to third, Flannery to second.
- Garry Templeton singled, McReynolds scored, Flannery to third.
- Steve Shields relieved Steve Bedrosian.
- Jerry Royster walked, Templeton to second.
- Tony Gwynn singled, Flannery scored, Templeton scored, Royster to third, Royster scored, Gwynn to second on error by third baseman Ken Oberkfell.
- Gwynn to third on wild pitch by Shields.
- Terry Kennedy grounded to third.
- Carmelo Martinez walked.
- Garvey singled, Gwynn scored, Martinez to third.
- McReynolds safe at first on error by catcher Larry Owen, Martinez scored, Garvey to third.
- Flannery struck out.
Death by paper cuts.
The Padres added two more in the fifth to make the score 11-0. Atlanta broke the shutout with two out in the ninth courtesy of back-to-back errors by Mario Ramirez, who had replaced Templeton at shortstop a few innings earlier.
A Friday night crowd of 12,758 witnessed the event, which kicked off the Padres’ penultimate homestand of the season.