PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Roberts Has Surgery on Knee, but May Be Back in Two Weeks

Padre second baseman Bip Roberts, who underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, could return to the lineup as early as two weeks, Padre trainer Bob Day said, and definitely will be back before the end of the season.

“It was a partial tear, and no other damage,” Day said. “He’ll be playing again in two to four weeks. It’s very similar to the injury Marty Barrett had.”

Barrett, who underwent surgery for torn cartilage on his right knee in May, was playing again in two weeks. He was eventually released by the Padres.

Roberts is expected to begin the rehabiliative process today at Scripps Clinic and might be able to join the club before the end of their 10-day road trip.

Roberts, who was operated on by Drs. Jan Fronek and Cliff Colwell, was able to walk after the surgery without the aid of crutches, Day said.

Roberts, considered one of the top leadoff hitters in the National League, suffered the injury in the first inning of Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves. After opening the inning with a double, Roberts was picked off second and was caught in a rundown.

When Roberts tried to jar the ball loose, Day said, he sustained the injury.

“We’re treating this aggressively,” Day said. “If you let him sit around for three or four days, you add to it.”

The Padres will play Paul Faries and Tim Teufel at second during Roberts’ absence, and hope the team still is in the pennant race upon his return. Roberts was hitting .360 during his past 22 games and was playing his best baseball of the season.

“We think we’ll be all right,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. “It’s going to hurt to lose him, but we think we have capable replacements.”

Roberts is the 11th Padre player to be placed on the disabled list this season and it’s the 14th time they’ve used the DL.

“It’s incredible what we’ve had to go through this year,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “I don’t know if Houdini could have gotten out of this mess.”

Padre shortstop Tony Fernandez missed the start of Monday’s game against the Dodgers to be with his hospitalized 3-year-old son.

Abraham Antonio Fernandez underwent surgery to create a tear duct. He was born with the eye problem, Fernandez said, and has undergone several surgical procedures this year.

Craig Shipley, formerly of the Dodgers, started in place of Fernandez. It was his first start at Dodger Stadium since 1987.

Padre reliever Larry Andersen, asked whether he’ll talk to some of the younger players about the pressure of a pennant race: “The only thing I can tell them is that there’s going to be more pressure. So you’re going to be more nervous. It’s that simple.”

Padre starter Ricky Bones on being matched in Wednesday’s game against Dodger starter Orel Hershiser: “It’s a dream. I can’t believe I get to face him. I remember watching him on TV during the World Series, winning in the Cy Young Award and everything. Now I get to face him. Wow!”

The Dodgers entered the Monday’s game having gone 217 innings without scoring more than three runs in an inning. . . . The Dodgers have a 25-22 record against left-handers this season and only the St. Louis Cardinals (28) have won more games against lefties. . . . Greg Harris (4-3) and Ramon Martinez (14-8) are the scheduled starters at 7:35 tonight in the second game of the three-game series. Harris has pitched 25 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

Padre catcher Benito Santiago appeared on the ESPN program “Up Close,” hosted by Roy Firestone, Monday.