Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 19

Did split decision KO Padres? Fate rests in the hands of others By Chris De Luca Times-Advocate Sportswnter SAN FRANCISCO While the Padres were satisfied with taking two of three from the Giants this weekend, they also faced the reality that they have lost control of their own fate in the National League West. With 12 games remaining in the season, the Padres who trail the Giants by five games are counting on the Dodgers, Reds and Astros to help them reach their goal of first place by Oct. 2. After the dark gray clouds peeled away from Candlestick Park Sunday, the Padres split a doubleheader with the first-place Giants. Kevin Mitchell pounded two home runs, giving him a major league-leading 45, as the Giants beat the Padres 5-3 in the first game.

In the second game, Bruce Hurst limited the Giants to five hits to register his league-leading 10th complete game with a 6-1 victory in front of 25,543 fans. Taking today off, the Padres continue their 10-day trip in Cincinnati before opening a three-game series in Los Angeles Friday. The Giants, meanwhile, open a three-game set against the Dodgers Tuesday. From there, the As tros who are in third place just a half game behind the Padres come to Candlestick for three games before the Giants close out the season in Los Angeles then San Diego. The Padres entered this crucial series with sweep in mind.

Now, they feel blessed to have escaped Candlestick with two wins. The Giants have been tough at home and nobody has swept them all year, said first baseman Jack Clark, who was 4-for-4 with a home run in the first game and 1-for-3 with another homer in the second. Youre happy to win two out of three anytime, especially against a team as tough as the Giants. But a sweep would have left the Padres trailing the Giants by only three games. Because the Padres host the Giants for the final three games of the season, a sweep would have left San Diego in control of its own destiny.

Now, we have to know we cant lose, said rightfielder Tony Gwynn, who remained atop the National League with his .339 average. As long as we start losing, our chances are diminished. We cant control it anymore. Our fate is no longer in our own hands. The Padres have done a superb job of controlling their fate in the final weeks of the season.

They have won seven of their last 10 games, 13 of theirlast 17 and 21 of their last 27. They got off to a solid start in Please see Padres, page C3 The Associated Press Chris James scores on Darrin Jackson single in second game. A tnifiKdla Off IrmlDSfiSlk McMahon heroics succeed only in keeping By Kevin Scattareggia Times Advocate Sportswnter SAN DIEGO Jim McMahon flashed the form Sunday that led the Chargers to trade for the veteran quarterback. Now, if they can only find a way for the rest of the young team to follow suit. With McMahon passing for career bests in three categories, the Chargers stayed in Sundays game against the Houston Oilers at San Diego Stadium.

However, not even McMahons magic could overcome a mistaken-filled game by the Chargers. With the Chargers committing five turnovers four of which led to 24 Oilers points Houston hung on for a 34-27 victory before 42,013 fans. We have five turnovers and they had none. We had more penalties then they did, said Chargers Coach Dan Henning. Thats the difference in the ball game today.

We have to continue to go back and to work on those things to make sure they dont kill us. But on Sunday, they did kill the Chargers. In addition to five turnovers, the Chargers were also guilty of 13 penalties for 117 yards. Yet, despite all the mistakes, the Chargers still had a chance to win the game, thanks in large part to McMahon. The former Chicago Bear quarterback completed 27 of 45 passes for 389 yards, all career bests for the eight-year veteran.

McMahon also tossed two touchdowns including a 63-yar-der to wide receiver Anthony Miller and led the Chargers on two fourth-period touchdown drives of 80 yards each. Even on the negative side three interceptions McMahon would be hard-pressed to fault. On two of the interceptions, the receivers failed to adjust their routes according to Houstons defense, and on the other pickoff, the ball went right out of H-back Rod Bernstines hands. I thought Jim had an outstanding performance under those conditions, Henning said. We didnt feel like wed have to throw the ball every down.

Said McMahon: I dont care about the personal satisfaction. Ive always been a team player, and as long as the team is not successful, Im not happy. The win was a rarity for the Oilers, who won for only the 14th time game close in their last 64 road games. Houston evened its record at 1-1, while the Chargers dropped to 0-2. It appeared that despite the numerous miscues, McMahon and the Chargers would get one last chance to tie the score in the final minute of the game.

McMahon had just orchestrated the second of the two fourth-quarter, 80-yard drives this one culminating in a 10-yard TD pass to Miller with 1 minute, 3 seconds remaining in the game. The TD lifted the Chargers to within 34-27. The Chargers then attempted an onside kick. Placekicker Chris Bahrs boot was apparently recovered by Charger defensive back Lester Lyles at the San Diego 46-yard line. However, after a lengthy discussion and a review by the NFL replay official Royal Cathcart that proved inconclusive, the officials ruled Lyles touched the ball before 10 yards, and penalized the Chargers, who had to kick over.

This time, Houston recovered and ran out the clock. But the Chargers refused to use the controversial play as a reason 1 for the loss. Between the turn- overs, penalties, and poor play by I the defense and the special teams, the Chargers were probably lucky to still be in contention. The Oilers created problems for the Chargers defense by going to their four-wide receiver set often. This move forced the Chargers to defend with eight men, leaving only a three-man rush most of the time.

The Chargers failed to sack quarterback Warren Moon. Given plenty of time, Moon finished 21 of 35 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he rushed for a one-yard TD. A big part of the Oilers scheme is the roll and zone blocking, so we thought a three-man rush would be just as effective as a four-man rush, said Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Lynn. We didnt expect to see four wide receivers as often as we did.

I give them credit for having a good scheme and I give credit to Warren Moon. Said Moon: We just went with four wide outs because they were making it tough on us (to run). When we went to four wide outs and spread them out, we were able to run better and we still were able to be effective with the pass. Please see Chargers, page C3 Aiex BrandonThe Times Advocate Houston running back Alonzo Highsmith goes airborne after being hit by the Chargers in the second quarter. McMahons career-best day not enough If I had thrown for that many yards and wed won I wouldnt be happy with all of the balls I threw badly.

I dont like to go out there and throw three interceptions and miss all of the guys that I missed today. McMahon rarely needed to throw the ball 45 times or for 300 yards in Chicago. He had future Hall-of-Famer Walter Payton to give the ball to and a great defense to keep the score down. But now McMahons in San Diego, where the running game is dismal without holdout Gary Anderson and the defense continues to do a quick backpedal away from respectability. After completing a 63 -yard touchdown pass to Miller to give the Chargers a 7-3 lead in the Please see McMahon, page C3 Oilers.

McMahon, who missed most of practice this past week with sore ribs, completed 27 of 45 passes for 389 yards, all single-game career bests. The former Bear also threw two touchdowns to Miller and engineered a critical scoring drive in the closing minutes. Miller caught seven passes for 162 yards, both career highs. Surprise! They lost. The Chargers turned the ball over five times, including three McMahon interceptions, and the defense once again didnt live up to expectations in a 34-27 setback.

I dont care about the personal satisfaction, McMahon said in a postgame press conference. Ive always been a team player, and as long as the team isnt successful, Im not happy. By Tod Leonard Times-Advocate Sportswnter SAN DIEGO On a mid-September Sunday four years ago, Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts enjoyed the third-best passing game in team history when he threw for 440 yards and four touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks. The same day, receiver Wes Chandler caught 13 balls for 243 yards, the second-best performance ever by a San Diego receiver. But in a bittersweet story of their careers here, Fouts and Chandler also lost the game 49-35.

On a cool and cloudy Chicago-style afternoon at San Diego Stadium the new Chargers aerial connection of quarterback Jim McMahon and receiver Anthony Miller experienced a similar frustration against the Houston A remoim wntilto class Miss Budweiser ends Gold Cup win streak SAN DIEGO (AP) Tom the final lap, when George Woods DEath piloted the Miss Budweiser Jr. in the Oh Boy! Oberto briefly to victory in the American Powei; went out front. Boat Association Gold Cup Sun- DEath, who also won the Gold day as engine failure ended Chip' Cup in 1976, said he had to slow Hanauers record streak of seven down because he was in danger of consecutive wins in the most pres- running out of fuel, tigious race on the unlimited hy- My throat sank to my heart droplane circuit. -Js, when I noticed I was running out of DEath, of Fair Haven, fuel, he said. I didnt know if I averaged 124.593 mph during the Would Jinish.

I had to slow down, six-lap final over the 2.5-mile When I slowed the boat down, the course on Mission Bay. fuel went to the back of the tank. Hanauer, of Seattle, jumped into Then, it ran OK to the finish. the lead in the Circus Circus but Woods, of Seattle, finished sec-suffered a blown engine on the first' ond with an average speed of lap. 123.983 mph.

Mike Hanson of Se- Hanauer was trying to match attle was third in the Holset-Miss the all-time record of eight Gold Mazda at 121.032 mph; Scott Cup championships by the late Bill. Pierce of Seattle fourth in Mr. Muncey. Pringles, at 119.584 mph; and DEath took the lead after Han- Steve David of Pompano Beach, auers engine blew and held it until fifth in Miss Easter Seals. Henry Ellard could barely get through the mob of players and reporters to wish Dicker-son good luck in the future.

It was the closest Ellard came to being covered all day. Ellard caught 12 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Rams to a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in front of an uncharacteristically vocal Anaheim Stadium crowd of 63,995. Ellards 230-yard game was the third-best in Ram history. How ironic that it came against the man whose prolific running skills prevented Ellard from ever enjoying a game like this in the first five years of his career. It was a strange homecoming for Dicker-son.

It began on the games first play from scrimmage. He took a handoff and looked for a hole on the right side of the Ram defense. There was none. Defensive end Doug Reed, who, like Ellard, was part of the same draft that made Dickerson a Ram, beat his blocker Dickerson gets 116, but Rams blitz Colts By Jim McCurdie Kmght-Ridder News Service ANAHEIM It began as a blissful marriage but when money got in the way, it ended in a bitter divorce. Eric Dickerson packed his bags.

The Los Angeles Rams got custody of the kids. Sunday was the first on-the-field reunion for Dickerson and his former Ram family. Emotions were understandably mixed. The Rams used to love watching Dickerson run wild. This time, it was their job to see that he didnt.

Dickerson had his 100-yard day, as he has done 54 times in his National Football League career. And when the game was over, he was swarmed over by former teammates, who just wanted to shake hands with the man who used to be such a big part of their lives. The Associated Press Eric Dickerson is greeted on his first carry by former teammate Doug Reed. Please see Rams, page C3.