TURN BACK THE CLOCK - MAY 26, 1992

by Jason Martinez
posted 5/26/08



This Padres team was good. Just not as good as the Braves and Reds, who finished 1st and 2nd in the division, respectively. Padre fans today could
only dream of a lineup that featured Tony Fernandez, Tony Gwynn, Gary Sheffield, and Benito Santiago. However, on this date in Padres baseball, the
hero was center fielder Darrin Jackson and the opponent was the eventual NL East Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

The home team jumped out in front early against Pittsburgh starter Bob Walk. After back-to-back singles by Fernandez and Gwynn to leadoff the game,
Walk balked in a run and Santiago had an RBI single to give the Padres a 2-0 lead. After adding a third run in the second on an RBI double by
Fernandez, the offense was held in check for the next 7.2 innings.

Starting for the Padres on this day was 28 year-old right-hander Greg Harris, who went into the game with a 1-4 record and a 5.03 ERA. Facing a
Pirates lineup that featured Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, and Jay Bell, Harris did not have an easy assignment ahead of him. Still, he pitched extremely
well on this day, allowing just two unearned runs and four hits over six innings. He was removed with a 3-2 lead.

Lefties Rich Rodriguez and Pat Clements held the Pirates at bay over the next two innings but closer Randy Myers blew his 3rd save of the season in
the top of the 9th after Don Slaught's RBI single brought home Steve Buechele, who had led off the inning with a double. Myers finished the 9th
without further damage. Pirates closer Stan Belinda and Padres reliever Tim Scott traded off scoreless innings, which brings us to the bottom of the
10th.

Thirty-nine year old veteran Dennis Lamp, pitching in his final big league season entered the game for the Pirates. After retiring Sheffield on a lineout
to center field and McGriff on a groundout, the game appeared to be headed for another inning of baseball. But Santiago struck again, this time with a
two-out double to deep right-center field. After an intentional walk to switch-hitting second baseman Kurt Stillwell, Jackson stepped to the plate.

In 1991, Jackson had his best season as a pro with the Padres, batting .262 with 21 home runs. In 1992, his last season in San Diego, he had what
was probably his most memorable at bat with the team on this day, May 26th. With the score tied at three, he launched a three-run walk-off home run
to left to win the ballgame for the Padres, who improved to 25-21 on the season. They finished with an 82-80 record. The homer was Jackson's 6th of
the season. He finished with a .249 BA, 17 HR, 70 RBI's, and 14 SB's. He retired after playing a final season for the Chicago White Sox in 1999 and
has been a broadcaster for the White Sox ever since.