PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Jackson Enhances His Drive For a Starting Job in Center

Darrin Jackson gained a bit more ground Sunday in his campaign for full-time duty as the Padres’ center fielder.

Jackson, a right-handed hitter who had been strictly a platoon player until recently, lined a triple to the wall in right-center in his first time at bat against right-hander Kip Gross of the Cincinnati Reds.

Later, Jackson hit a home run off a left-hander, Gino Minutelli. He now has 12 homers, and four have been off right-handers--Jeff Parrett, Mike Hartley, Mike LaCoss and Rick Mahler.

Because Jackson is on a roll, Manager Greg Riddoch has started him against four of the last five right-handers the Padres have faced. The exception has been Cincinnati ace Jose Rijo.

Jackson’s average against right-handers in these games has been only .200 (three for 15). “I’ve been platooned so long that I’ve never hit off these guys I’ve been facing,” Jackson said. “Greg told me I’d be getting more playing time, so this is the chance I’ve been waiting for.”

Third baseman Jack Howell, who had two hits and drove in two of the Padres’ 13 runs Sunday, said he was “finally starting to feel comfortable” after a long period on the Angel bench. . . . Second baseman Bip Roberts will have a root canal done Tuesday to replace the upper front tooth he lost last week when he jabbed himself with a fork while eating. . . . Oscar Azocar’s pinch-hit single Sunday was his first National League hit. . . . The Padres tied a season high with their 13 runs. . . . Thanks to a scoring change, Padre catcher Benito Santiago gained a hit in Saturday night’s game and Reds shortstop Barry Larkin lost an error. As a result, Santiago is hitting .251 instead.