PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Rib Cage Injury to Sideline McGriff for Two or Three Days

First baseman Fred McGriff’s strained rib cage was the most serious injury incurred in the Padres’ brawl Thursday against the San Francisco Giants.

The Padres will be without McGriff, their cleanup hitter, for at least two or three days.

“I’m sore, I’m real sore,” McGriff said. “I probably should have X-rays on it because it hurts.”

Still, McGriff has no regrets for storming to the mound Thursday night after being hit by Giant starter Trevor Wilson, which triggered a 10-minute brawl. Wilson’s first pitch hit McGriff after teammate Gary Sheffield hit a grand slam.

“I didn’t hit the homer, why me?” McGRiff said. “I can’t just stand up there and be a target for guys who throw balls at me because he’s giving up homers. If he’s striking us out, then are we supposed to do something?”

Was there doubt that Wilson hit McGriff purposely?

“No, he’s got pretty good control,” McGriff said.

How did McGriff sustain the injury, anyway?

“I think it happened when I was trying to throw a punch,” McGriff said. “The thing that made me mad was that I missed.”

The Padres won’t announce anything until Sunday, but unless there’s a change of heart, they plan to release center fielder Gary Pettis when they activate Padre starter Greg Harris.

The Padres will keep a 12-man pitching staff through Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers. Then they plan to make another move Wednesday to bring up left fielder Phil Stephenson, who is batting .345 with eight homers and 43 RBIs at triple-A Las Vegas.

To make room for Stephenson on the roster, the Padres are expected to release outright left-handed reliever Pat Clements to Las Vegas. Yet, even if Clements clears waivers and is sent outright to Las Vegas, he still has the right to declare himself a free agent.

“We’re going to make some moves here,” Padre General Manager Joe McIlvaine said, “but things could change.”

Giant first baseman Will Clark, who tried to act as peacemaker during the fight when he tackled McGriff and brought him to the backstop, also is expected to be out for a few days with a sore neck.

“This is just what you didn’t want to see,” Giant Manager Roger Craig said, “someone get hurt. They worked on his neck for a couple of hours, and it’s pretty stiff.”

Clark also was spiked in the brawl and suffered a gash in his foot.

Harry Wendelstedt, umpire crew chief, on Thursday’s brawl between the Padres and Giants: “We probably missed half a dozen who should have been tossed, and we probably tossed somebody we shouldn’t have.”

Wendelstedt also missed Friday’s game with an injury, but it had nothing to do with the brawl. He had an ear infection.

Padre pitcher Frank Seminara, savoring his first major league victory, was elated to learn that his family and friends were able to see the game at a sports bar in Brooklyn.

“I got a lot of calls today,” Seminara said. “It was a good feeling knowing that everyone was able to share in the moment.

“It’s been a little bit of a rough adjustment. You just don’t step into the big leagues and feel comfortable overnight. I’m feeling better and better with each start.”

Said McIlvaine: “To me, there’s no question he belongs up here. I know he’s right for the job. He’ll be just fine.”

Seminara’s victory was the first by Padre fifth starter this season in 12 starts.

Where was McIlvaine during the brawl?

Exhausted from his trip to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C., to see the Padres’ Class A team, he was back in his hotel room. He napped, and when he awoke, the game was 45 minutes old.

“I turned on the radio,” McIlvaine said, “just in time to hear Sheffield hit the grand slam. Then, they said the score was 8-0, and I’m thinking, ‘This is great.’

“Then, the next pitch hits Fred, and a fight breaks out. So in a matter of five minutes, I heard a grand slam, an 8-0 lead and a brawl. I’m thinking, ‘What a game, what am I doing here?’ ”

Clark, the Giants’ Gold Glove first baseman, made three errors in Thursday’s game, including two on one play. Clark, who had only four errors last season, has nine for the season. ... The Padres’ triple-A Las Vegas team clinched the first-half championship in the Southern Division of the Pacific Coast League with a 4-0 victory over Portland. Mark Knudson pitched a six-hitter for the victory, extending his scoreless streak to 15 innings. . . . Meanwhile, Padre starter Dave Eiland is expected to be optioned to Las Vegas next week after he completes his rehabilitative assignment. Although his back is fine, he has been suffering from blister problems his last two starts. . . . Children 14 and younger who attend the July 5 adres-Montreal Expos game at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium will receive a free ticket to the All-Star FanFest at the San Diego Concention Center July 10-14.