NOTEBOOK : PADRES UPDATE : Faries Returns, But in Utility Role

Infielder Paul Faries has a sense his first full season with the Padres could have been different.

The Padres activated Faries on Monday while also purchasing the contract of relief pitcher Tim Scott from triple-A Las Vegas. Faries replaces Jose Mota, who was demoted to Las Vegas, and Scott takes the place of Atlee Hammaker, who was put on the disabled list.

But while Scott, 24, who was 5-2 with a 4.38 ERA, is elated simply to be in the big leagues for the first time in his career, Faries hungers for the days before he was sidelined by a sprained ankle.

During infield practice the night of May 23 in Atlanta, a ball was thrown in from the outfield, out of Faries’ reach. He jumped anyway and landed on the side of the second base bag, collapsing in pain.

“I’ve probably thought about that every night since while trying to go to sleep,” Faries said, “wondering what I was thinking. I still can’t believe I tried to get that ball. But it was nobody’s fault but my own. Believe me, it was hard to live with, especially since everything was going well.”

Faries had started nine consecutive games at second base, and Bip Roberts had moved to center field at the time of the injury. But since Faries has been gone, Thomas Howard has joined the center-field picture, second baseman Tim Teufel has been acquired from the Mets, and the only role available for Faries right now is as a utility player.

“I think that’s why I got so angry when it happened,” he said. “I worked all my life to get there, and then something like that had to happen. But I feel I’m ready now, and I got in a groove (playing in Class A High Desert) on a rehabilitative assignment.

“Hopefully, my turn will come again.”

First baseman Phil Stephenson, who has spent this season on the disabled list with a broken bone in his right kneecap, was sent to triple-A Las Vegas on a rehabilitative assignment. . . . Pitcher Ed Whitson, who’s on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow, threw for 15 minutes in the outfield Monday and will throw off the mound today. “I feel like I got my old arm back,” Whitson said. . . . The Padres, in an attempt to strengthen their minor-league clubs, signed pitcher Randy McCament to a triple-A contract and pitcher Howard Hilton to a double-A contract. McCament, who spent his career in the San Francisco Giants organization and was cut this spring by the Cincinnati Reds, was 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three games for the Giants last season. Hilton, who spent his career in the St. Louis Cardinal organization, was recommended on the advice of triple-A Manager Jim Riggleman. He was 0-0 in two games with the Cardinals last season. FIRST INNING

Pirates--Redus led off and doubled to left. Bell doubled to right, Redus stopping at third. Webster struck out. McClendon singled to center, Redus and Bell scoring. McClendon picked off first. Bonds struck out. Two runs, three hits. Pirates 2, Padres 0.

THIRD INNING

Pirates--With one out, Redus homered, his first. Bell flied to center. Webster struck out. One run, one hit. Pirates 3, Padres 0.

EIGHTH INNING

Padres--Fernandez led off and singled to right. Gwynn singled to left, Fernandez stopping at second. Kipper relieved Drabek. McGriff grounded to first, Fernandez stopping at third, Gwynn stopping at second. Belinda relieved Kipper. Teufel singled to left, Fernandez scoring, Gwynn stopping at third. Howard pinch-running for Teufel. Santiago singled to left, Gwynn scoring, Howard stopping at second. Clark flied to right, Howard taking third. Coolbaugh struck out. Two runs, four hits, two left. Pirates 3, Padres 2.