PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Stillwell Makes Brief Return to the Lineup as Pinch-Hitter

Kurt Stillwell returned to the Padres Tuesday, however briefly.

Stillwell, who has been out since suffering a severe bruise on the outside of his left knee Saturday in Houston, struck out looking while pinch-hitting for pitcher Rich Rodriguez in the fourth inning.

Earlier in the day, Stillwell had precautionary X-rays on the knee.

The result?

“I guess they went really well,” Stillwell said before the game. “I haven’t heard anything negative.”

Stillwell was optimistic of returning to the lineup soon because he was able to jog during batting practice Tuesday. The knee prevented him from running Monday.

In other injury news, Mike Maddux, who has had some tenderness in his right (pitching) elbow, threw 28 pitches to live batters Tuesday afternoon and remains hopeful of coming off of the disabled list Friday.

“I felt real good on some, pretty good on some and not so good on some,” he said. “We’ll know more (today). We’ll see how the arm responds after throwing.”

Having had two operations on the elbow in previous years, it is always worrisome for Maddux when he notices a twinge. But he is looking forward to returning to the Padre bullpen.

“I’m excited,” he said. “Everything stayed in one piece.”

Think the Padres didn’t notice Cincinnati place pitcher Joe Rijo on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday?

“It’s somebody else’s turn now,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “We paid our dues.”

The Padres had a 10-minute meeting before Tuesday’s game.

To talk about their five-game losing streak? To discuss the multitudes of men they’ve been leaving on base?

No and No. It was a meeting to introduce the Padre public relations department personnel to the players.

Randy Myers watch: He is scheduled to appear on The Dennis Miller Show Thursday night at 11 p.m.

Maybe Jose Melendez’s 3-0 start shouldn’t be a surprise. He went 7-0 to begin the season last summer at triple-A Las Vegas and he went 9-0 to start the season two years ago for triple-A Calgary.

Maybe this is what they mean by experience: Gary Pettis, the new 34-year-old outfielder picked up by the Padres last week, was walking through the clubhouse before the game with a Popsicle when Darrin Jackson reached out to grab it. Pettis yanked it away in time. “See, you could do that to a younger guy,” Pettis said, laughing. . . . The time of Friday’s game against Cincinnati has been changed to 7:35 p.m. to accommodate ESPN. . . . Pitching matchups for the Cincinnati series: The Padres’ Greg Harris (0-1) vs. Tim Belcher (1-2) Friday at 7:35 p.m.; Andy Benes (2-0) vs. Greg Swindell (0-1) Saturday at 7:05 p.m.; Craig Lefferts (1-2) vs. Chris Hammond (2-0) Sunday at 1:05 p.m. . . . The Padres are 5-0 when leading after eight innings this season. . . . Despite having only one home run in 182 at bats entering Tuesday’s game, the Padres still led the National League in home runs with 13. . . . Minor League Dept.: Phil Stephenson leads triple-A Las Vegas in both batting average (.464) and homers (two). Paul Faries is second in batting average (.393). Catcher Tom Lampkin is off to a slow start, batting only .083.