Stars triumph in 10 innings; Smith called up to majors

      Pete Smith spent more than a year trying to prove to the San Diego Padres he was worthy of a promotion to the big leagues.
      Nothing worked.
      Smith was overlooked by the Padres last season when major-league rosters expanded on Sept. 1, despite the fact he led the Stars with 11 victories and was 7-4 in the second half.
      Then this spring, San Diego bypassed the veteran right-hander again. Even though Smith was as effective as any pitcher on the Padres' roster, allowing four earned runs and nine hits in 12 innings, he was sent back to Las Vegas.
      Angry and perplexed, Smith began to wonder what he had to do for the Padres to get an opportunity.
      "Going into this spring, I was feeling great, and I threw the ball well. So I was very disappointed," Smith said. "And then I just started to think, `Well, maybe right now is not the right time. I'm just going to keep pitching (with the Stars). We have expansion next year and you never know what happens in the big leagues -- people get hurt all the time. The only thing I can do is go out and do my best to prove to them I can help them.' "
      He finally did that during the Stars' 7-6, 10-inning victory over the Calgary Cannons on Thursday, and it only took Smith one inning.
      With San Diego general manager Kevin Towers watching from behind home plate at Cashman Field, Smith started and worked out of a first-inning jam against the Cannons. He then walked into the Stars' dugout and was told by Las Vegas manager Jerry Royster that he was done for the night ... because the Padres are sending him back to the big leagues.
      San Diego will purchase Smith's contract on Saturday, when the pitcher will join the Padres in Cincinnati for a series against the Reds. Ironically, the last major-league team Smith pitched for was the Reds in 1995.
      "It's nice to be recognized, I think that's the nicest thing about it, to know they consider me to be a big-league pitcher," an elated Smith said during Thursday's game. "It feels great. It's been a long journey back. ... I think because I've been away (from the majors) for a year and a half, I do appreciate it, because it's not as if it was handed to me. I had to work and I had to battle for it, and I think that's where the appreciation comes from."
      Smith, who has pitched in 157 major-league games, was by far the Stars' most effective starter this year, going 3-2 with a 4.28 ERA. In 33 2/3 innings pitched, he struck out 24 and walked just six.
      On Thursday, he took the mound for just the second time since being sidelined for more than two weeks because of his father's health problem and an injury to the middle finger on his pitching hand.
      With Towers looking on, Smith's first pitch was slapped to center field for a single by Calgary leadoff hitter Tom Beasley. Beasley then stole second and took third on Kevin Polcovich's flyout to center. But Beasley was stranded when Smith struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
      That was all Towers needed to see.
      "He pitched very well last year. He's pitched well this year," Towers said. "He's got the experience at the major-league level (and) he knows the league. He's a guy who's continued to come down here and prove that he's worthy to be in the major leagues, and he's certainly going to get an opportunity."
      Towers refused to say what the Padres will do to make room for Smith on their 25- and 40-man rosters, although a source said the trade of a San Diego pitcher is imminent.
      Towers did acknowledge that Smith's promotion is not "a 10-day or a 15-day deal," and he will probably see action as a reliever and a spot starter, and that's fine with Smith.
      "My goal is to get hitters out," he said. "I don't know what role I'll be in. Whatever they throw at me, though, I'll be ready for."
      -- NOTES -- Despite Smith's departure, the Stars won in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 10th. Calgary reliever Curtis Shaw (0-1) walked Jorge Velandia and Angelo Encarnacion to start the inning, and Velandia took third on Ray Brown's flyout to right field. Out of position players, Royster inserted pitcher Jim Bruske as a pinch-hitter, and the former outfielder put down a squeeze bunt on a 1-1 count to score Velandia. Las Vegas had scored an unearned run in the seventh and two unearned runs in the ninth to erase a 6-3 deficit and force extra innings. Reliever Todd Schmitt (3-0) earned the victory with two innings of scoreless relief. ... Calgary scored five of their runs on four homers off Chris Hook, who relieved Smith. The four homers allowed in one game ties Hook with Ed Wojna (1984) in the Stars' record book.