Padres have to keep on winning

By: JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Monday, September 27, 2004 9:24 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The last time the Padres played a meaningful regular-season game this late in the season, the year was 1996.

Back then, the Padres went to Los Angeles the last weekend of the regular season and swept the Dodgers in a three-game series to win the NL West.

Tonight, the Padres play the first of their final six games of the season, needing to sweep the Giants and Diamondbacks to have a shot at postseason play.

Fourth in the NL wild-card race ---- 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs, two games behind the Giants and one game behind the Astros, the Padres need to win and get help if they're going to play in the postseason for the first time since their World Series season of 1998.

That year, the Padres clinched the NL West on Sept. 12.

"We've got to play our best ball the next week ---- pitching, clutch hitting and defense," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's a very simple game if you do that."

Left fielder Ryan Klesko took Bochy's statement a step farther.

"Every game now is like the seventh game of the World Series," Klesko said. "Every game is big, and I know you've heard this before, but we have to take it one game at a time.

"We can't worry about the third or fourth game, we need to win the first game."

Bochy will send Brian Lawrence (15-13, 3.92 ERA) against the Giants tonight. He will pitch on his full four-days' rest after two straight starts on three-days' rest.

"I'm going to go out there and try and throw a good game," Lawrence said. "There is no more pressure than any other game. And there is no more pressure on me than the rest of the guys.

"I hope there are no ill effects from the last two starts. I would think adrenaline will carry me through."

One of the big problems the Padres face is Giants slugger Barry Bonds, who has been a Padres killer in the past.

Lawrence said he's determined not to let Bonds hurt him.

"There really isn't a strategy when facing Bonds," Lawrence said. "I won't throw him anything good to hit.

"We'll just stand up, throw him four balls and let him go to first."

Padres slugger Phil Nevin played with the flu last weekend. He's hoping Monday's day off will help him be close to 100 percent tonight.

"This is the time of the season you want to be at your best," Nevin said. "We're playing the Giants with a chance to get to the playoffs.

"If we keep winning, we still need help. But the best part is, the more we win, the longer we have a chance. These next three games against the Giants are huge."

After three home games against the Giants, the Padres travel to Arizona for their final three regular-season games.

The Cubs host Cincinnati for three more games and then host Atlanta for three. The Giants play the Padres, then travel to Los Angeles for three games with the Dodgers.

The Astros have the Cardinals for two more home games this week and finish with three home games against the Rockies.

"We're not in the best position, but at least we have a position," Bochy said. "We have a chance to make this interesting."

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or at jmaffei@nctimes.com.