NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : More Tests for Jerald Clark; Roberts Out With Back Spasms

The Padres showed up at the ballpark Tuesday, which means there is a medical report that, if you laid all the names out side-by-side, would stretch nearly to El Cajon:

- Outfielder Jerald Clark underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging test on his sore Achilles’ tendon Tuesday afternoon. “Just precautionary,” trainer Bob Day said. Results will not be available until today. Clark pinch-hit in the ninth inning Tuesday and struck out.

- Outfielder Bip Roberts was still suffering back spasms also was unavailable Tuesday.

“I can’t mess with my back,” Roberts said. “You don’t mess around with nerves like that.”

It turns out that Roberts started receiving treatment for an irritated back when the Padres were in Houston, and it got progressively worse until he had to leave Monday’s game against Atlanta. Roberts said he doesn’t think it is serious and that he hopes to be back in the lineup tonight.

- Pitcher Ed Whitson, who will miss his scheduled start Friday because of elbow tendinitis, has been taking anti-inflammatory medication. He said he feels better and has much more flexibility in his arm than he had Sunday in Houston.

- Pitcher Pat Clements, who is on the disabled list with a torn posterior labrum in his shoulder, threw on the side for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery May 16 and reported progress. Day said he hopes Clements can throw “fairly hard” off a mound in about 1 1/2 weeks.

- Second baseman Paul Faries played catch for this first time since spraining his ankle Thursday in Houston.

- Pitcher Greg Harris, on the disabled list since April 22 with elbow tendinitis, long-tossed Tuesday and is expected to pitch batting practice Thursday.

The Padres, who will be making some roster moves this week, made none Tuesday. But . . .

Pitcher Larry Andersen likely will come off the disabled list Wednesday or Thursday. Manager Greg Riddoch said Wednesday is likely, but Andersen said he will talk with Riddoch, Day and General Manager Joe McIlvaine and possibly delay it until Thursday, just to be sure.

Infielder Marty Barrett, who is eligible to come off of the disabled list any time, will probably remain on rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Las Vegas until Thursday or Friday, according to Riddoch.

Third baseman Jim Presley, who is expected to be released any day, was in uniform Tuesday.

And who will pitch Friday in place of Whitson? Riddoch said the Padres will decide today. That makes sense, because Jose Melendez, 7-0 at Las Vegas and a prime prospect to pitch Friday, is scheduled to pitch for the Stars tonight. The options are either Melendez or dig someone out of the Padre bullpen, which Riddoch said he is “reluctant” to do.

Second baseman Jose Mota joined the Padres Friday and played his first game in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium Monday, but his latest home isn’t exactly new to him. Mota, the son of former Dodger Manny Mota, was a Dodger bat boy for four years in the mid-to-late 1970s.

Coincidentally, his first game as a bat boy was in San Diego--the day Bill Russell’s bat broke and part of it struck Steve Yeager, who was standing in the on-deck circle, in the neck. Yeager needed stitches to close the wound.

“It was pretty scary at first,” Mota said.

Now, he is in San Diego as an actual major leaguer.

“(The clubhouse) is beautiful,” he said. “It’s everything you expect in the big leagues.”

Friday’s game time with Houston has been pushed back to 7:35 p.m. to accommodate ESPN. . . . Pitchers for the Houston series: The Padres’ Dennis Rasmussen (0-0) vs. Jimmy Jones (4-1) at 1:05 p.m. Thursday; Undecided, but likely Melendez, vs. Mark Portugal at 7:35 p.m. Friday; Bruce Hurst (5-2) vs. Jim Deshaies (2-5) at 7:05 p.m. Saturday; Adam Peterson (1-1) vs. Xavier Hernandez (0-5) at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

FIRST INNING

Braves--Gant homered to left, his eighth. Pendleton flied to left. L. Smith lined to the shortstop. Justice grounded to second. One run, one hit.

Padres--With one out, Fernandez walked and stole second. Gwynn tripled to right, Fernandez scoring. McGriff singled to center, Gwynn scoring. Santiago and Coolbaugh flied to left. Two runs, two hits, one left.

SECOND INNING

Braves--Bream homered to right, his sixth. Blauser walked. Heath struck out. Belliard struck out and Blauser caught stealing. One run, one hit.

THIRD INNING

Braves--With two out, Pendleton homered to right, his fifth. L. Smith reached second on the third baseman Coolbaugh’s throwing error. Justice struck out. One run, one hit, one error, one left.

Padres--With one out, Fernandez walked and stole second. Gwynn grounded to shortstop, Fernandez taking third. Fernandez scored on a passed ball. McGriff grounded to first. One run, no hits.

SIXTH INNING

Braves--L. Smith singled to left. Justice popped to shortstop. Bream reached first on a fielder’s choice and took second on Mota’s throwing error and L. Smith was safe and second and took third on Mota’s throwing error. Blauser walked, loading the bases. Heath sacrifice flied into foul territory in right, L. Smith scoring, Bream taking third and Blauser taking second. Bream scored and Blauser took third on the pitcher Peterson’s balk. Belliard grounded to third. Two runs (none earned), one hit, one left.

SEVENTH INNING

Padres--With two out, Abner doubled to left. Mota reached first on the third baseman Pendleton’s fielding error, Abner taking third. Mercker replaced P. Smith. Templeton, batting for the pitcher Rodriguez, homered to left-center, his first. Howard struck out. Three runs, two hits, one error.

NINTH INNING

Braves--Lemke walked. Gant reached first on the shortstop Fernandez’s fielding error, Lemke stopping at second. Pendleton sacrificed. Nixon was walked intentionally, loading the bases. Justice singled to right, Lemke and Gant scoring, Nixon taking third. Bream forced Justice at second, Nixon scoring. Blauser forced Bream at second. Three runs (one earned), one hit, one error, one left.