NOTEBOOK : PADRES UPDATE : Roberts to Miss One Week

The Padres, who are quickly becoming specialists in the medical field, were hit once again with more rotten news when they learned that center fielder Bip Roberts will be out for at least a week with back spasms.

Roberts, who stayed in San Diego to undergo further testing but was expected to join the team Wednesday, was advised by Dr. Jan Fronek to remain in San Diego and undergo physical therapy.

It will not be necessary for Roberts to be placed on the disabled list, Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said, simply because they expect him to be ready when the Padres return home Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

“There’s really no indication there’s that much wrong,” Riddoch said. “It’s just that the back spasms are knotting. If it was something more than they’d DL him now and take the time to do it right.

“In the past, he’s missed a lot of games. And we took him out of a lot of games. He’s a little guy who plays hard, and he breaks down easy.”

Roberts, considered one of the game’s top leadoff hitters, began experiencing pain in the middle of his back May 27 against the Atlanta Braves. He left the game in the fourth inning and missed the next two games. He returned May 30 and started the next four games, but was forced to leave early once again Sunday.

Roberts, who hit .117 (two for 17) during the stretch, Monday underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test, which proved negative, but further tests revealed that the muscle spasms had not diminished.

“This gives us a chance to look at more people,” Riddoch said, “and certainly we’ve looked at everybody by now. We’re just going to have to play one man short, but what else is new? We’ve been doing that all season. This is old news.”

Riddoch actually will be playing with a 22-man roster considering that outfielder Jerald Clark’s sore Achilles’ tendon will prevent him from being in the outfield for at least another week, and third baseman Jim Presley is battling an ailing back.

The Padres are reluctant to place Roberts on the disabled list because they don’t want to lose him for a week longer than necessary.

“I’d rather lose him for seven days,” Riddoch said, “rather than losing him for another eight while he’s healthy. I really don’t have a choice. I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t.”

Thomas Howard, one of 10 players who have been brought up from triple-A Las Vegas this season, will take Roberts’ place during his absence. He has led off and started the past two games in center, batting .625 (five for eight) with one run and three stolen bases.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Riddoch said. “It’ll just be nice when we finally can get everyone healthy.”

Right-hander Greg Harris said his elbow felt fine Wednesday after pitching a simulated game Tuesday night, and believes he’s ready to begin pitching in games again.

“I don’t think they’re (the coaching staff) worried about my health any more,” Harris said, “it’s just to see how my stuff is. I’ll tell you what, I had better stuff Tuesday than I had in my first two outings. I feel great.

“Now, it’s up to me to show them what I’m made of.”

Harris will pitch one more simulated game, perhaps Sunday in Pittsburgh, then is expected to begin a rehabilitative assignment.

“Hey, the way guys are pitching now,” Harris said, “it’s going to be tough to dump a guy out of the rotation for me. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if they want me to be in the bullpen, that’s fine, too.”

Padre outfielder Darrin Jackson, who had two hits in a single inning Tuesday, said his achievement was satisfying considering that this was the first time he faced his former team.

Jackson, who was traded from the Cubs in 1989, never had faced the Cubs since the trade. But Tuesday night, 21 months since the trade, Jackson finally was able to seek revenge in Chicago.

“It was great playing against them finally,” Jackson said. “It’s been a long time coming. And it sure beats watching. It’s the first time I’ve ever had two hits in an inning in my life, but I remember a few times in the minors where I made two outs in an inning.”

Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg has a 31-game errorless streak, the 13th time in his career he has played at least 30 consecutive games without committing an error. He has committed only one error in his last 84 games, April 28 at Cincinnati. He has not made a throwing error since July 4, 1990, spanning 126 games. . . . Mike Monday, the son of Padre broadcaster Rick Monday, was drafted in the 31st round by the Angels. Monday is a freshman catcher at Orange Coast College. . . . Steve Rosenberg, making his first start of the season Tuesday for the Padres’ triple-A Las Vegas club, struck out nine batters and allowed one hit in four innings in the Stars’ 3-0 victory. . . . Robbie Beckett, the Padres’ No. 1 pick of a year ago, allowed two hits and struck out nine in 7 1/3 innings in (Class A) Charleston’s 4-0 victory over Greensboro. . . . Bob Costas of NBC stopped by Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon to catch the Cubs-Padres game before leaving for the Stadium to broadcast Game 2 of the NBA finals. . . . The Padres will play the series finale against the Cubs at 11:20 (PST) today. Jose Melendez (1-0) and Greg Maddux (5-3) are the scheduled starters.

FIRST INNING

Padres--With one out, Fernandez homered to right, his second. Gwynn flied to left. McGriff grounded to first. One run, one hit. Padres 1, Cubs 0.

SEVENTH INNING

Padres--With one out, McGriff doubled to left. McGriff taking third on catcher Villanueva’s passed ball. Teufel struck out. Santiago tripled to right, McGriff scoring. Coolbaugh flied to left. One run, two hits, one left. Padres 2, Cubs 0.

EIGHTH INNING

Padres--Jackson led off and singled to center. Rasmussen grounded to pitcher, Jackson forced at second, Rasmussen reached second on shortstop Dunston’s throwing error. Howard singled to right, Rasmussen stopping at third. Fernandez fouled to third. Assenmacher relieved Slocumb. Gwynn singled to center, Rasmussen scoring, Howard stopping at second. McGriff walked, loading the bases. Lancaster relieved Assenmacher. Teufel struck out. One run (unearned), three hits, one error, three left. Padres 3, Cubs 0.