Show Will Be on DL Until at Least July 27 : Pinched Nerve in Back the Problem; Leiper Recalled from Las Vegas

The Padres placed pitcher Eric Show on the 21-day disabled list Saturday because of a pinched nerve in his back.

The move was retroactive to July 6, meaning Show will be eligible to return July 27. The Padres recalled left-handed pitcher Dave Leiper from 20-day rehabilitation assignment in triple-A Las Vegas to replace Show. Padre Manager Jack McKeon said Greg Harris will be moved to the starting rotation during Show’s absence.

Show, 8-6 with a 4.23 earned-run average, has missed his past two turns and last pitched June 25, allowing five runs and seven hits against the Giants and leaving after three innings with no decision.

Show pitched batting practice during Wednesday’s team workout and said he felt fine. But he suffered back spasms Thursday and was evaluated by doctors.

Although Show will be eligible to return July 27, Padre pitching coach Pat Dobson said that based on a conversation he had with Show Friday, he doesn’t think the right-hander will be ready in 11 days.

“Probably the worst thing you can do is to bring him back too early and risk having him go out and screw it up again,” Dobson said.

Said Show: “The object is to get me to pitch this year as soon as possible. (The disabled list) is the only thing to do right now, I think. I’m very disappointed with the whole thing, but there’s nothing I can do except do my best to get well.”

Harris will get his first starting assignment of the season--and second of his career--Monday against Pittsburgh. The rookie right-hander is 3-3 with a 1.82 ERA in 49 1/3 innings.

“The guy is a pretty good pitcher and hasn’t been getting a lot of work,” McKeon said.

And if Harris pitches well in a starting role?

“Who knows?” McKeon said. “If he does extremely well and someone else doesn’t, who knows what will happen? It’s too early to predict.”

Leiper learned of his recall after pitching three innings in Las Vegas Friday night. He was 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA in seven games during his rehabilitation assignment.

Padre Notes

Third baseman Bip Roberts left the game after the second inning with a pull in his left rib cage. He will be X-rayed today. . . . Pat Dobson, the Padre pitching coach, said Fred Toliver was the other candidate to fill in for Eric Show during Show’s stay on the disabled list. Right-hander Mark Grant would have seemed a logical candidate--he started 11 games in 1988 and 17 in 1987--but the Padres are happy with the long-relief and set-up roles Grant has filled. “I like him where he’s at,” Dobson said. “We felt like we should go with Harris based on what Grant has done so far. Grant will basically do what Harris has been doing--set up for Mark Davis. We’ll see what happens.” Grant is 3-1 with a 2.41 earned-run average in 56 innings. He was the winning pitcher in his last appearance July 9 in Pittsburgh, going 6 2/3 innings in relief--a career high--of Dennis Rasmussen, allowing no runs and four hits. . . . The Padres’ single-A California League team, Riverside, will play Modesto this afternoon at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium immediately following the Padre-Cub game. . . . Las Vegas second baseman Joey Cora singled Friday night to extend his triple-A hitting streak to 27 games. . . . Looks like Carmelo Martinez’s television career has been put on hold. He had an offer from a Spanish version of MTV to be a guest veejay when the Padres visit New York Aug. 15-17 but said he probably will decline. If he did take the job, though, he said viewers could expect to see videos from Billy Ocean, Michael Jackson and Madonna.