PADRES UPDATE : It’s One All-Star Contest Tim Scott Is Happy to Miss

While honored to be selected, Tim Scott would just as soon skip the triple-A All-Star game to be played July 15 at The Diamond in Richmond, Va., and he probably will.

Scott, one of four members from the Las Vegas Stars selected, was promoted to the Padres on Sunday and figures to be with them well past July 15.

“I don’t mind that a bit,” Scott said. “It was a big honor to make it. I’ve never made an all-star team before in my eight seasons, but I’ll be happy to miss this one.

“The only way I would play in the game is if I get sent back down.”

Because that is unlikely, Scott said instead he probably would visit his family and 3-year-old daughter during the major league All-Star break. They live in Hanford, which is 30 miles south of Fresno.

Las Vegas infielders Paul Faries, Dave Staton and Guillermo Velasquez were named as reserves for the triple-A National League squad.

Scott was second in the Pacific Coast League in saves with 15. Staton was tied for second in the league in home runs with 14 (he has 17), and Faries was third in batting with a .339 average.

Former Padre backup catcher Mark Parent, now playing for Rochester (N.Y.) in the Baltimore Orioles system, was selected as a reserve for the American League squad. Despite playing with a sore hamstring most of the season, Parent was hitting .278 in 68 games through Wednesday and led the Red Wings with 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Left-hander reliever Pat Clements, 30, who was waived by the Padres on July 5, was picked up by the Baltimore Orioles. For the Padres, Clements was 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA this season in 27 appearances, all in relief.

Clements will join Mike Flanagan as the Orioles’ only two left-handed relievers.

“We’ve wanted to get a second left-hander in the bullpen for sometime,” said Baltimore General Manager Roland Hemond.

Kyle Abbott, expected to start for Philadelphia on Saturday, is UC San Diego’s career ERA leader. In two seasons with the Tritons--1987 and ‘88--Abbott compiled a 1.94 ERA while winning 13 games (tied for sixth in UCSD’s record book), saving five (second) and striking out 125 (fifth).

He hasn’t quite had that kind of success this year. Abbott, a rookie left-hander, is 0-11, one loss from tying Philadelphia’s all-time record for consecutive losses to begin a career.

His ERA is 5.40, but he has also averaged better than six innings per his 12 starts. After going 0-7, Abbott was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre (Pa.), went 4-1 there and returned to Philadelphia.

The search for victory No. 1 has been frustrating for both Abbott and Manager Jim Fregosi.

“It becomes a psychological thing after awhile,” Fregosi said. “Overall, he’s handling it pretty well.

“I’d like to take some pressure off him, maybe put him in a middle relief role, but we’ll wait and see. We’ve already lost four of our top five starters. We’ll probably make a decision during the All-Star break.”

Said Abbott: “I’m holding up good. Physically, I’m good. Mentally, I feel I’ve given them a good effort every time out. A pitcher’s job is to give his team a chance to win. I could easily be 4-7 or 5-6.”

Indeed, the Phillies have scored only 11 runs with Abbott on the mound.

Said Fregosi: “If I had a pitcher named Costello, I’d use him.”

Secret Service men and FBI agents scouted Jack Murphy Stadium before the game in preparation for President Bush’s appearance at the All-Star game. Wonder how many skunks they found?

The four active Padre All-Stars--Tony Gwynn, Fred McGriff, Tony Fernandez and Gary Sheffield--were in the same starting lineup for only the second time since June 18.

Gwynn collected his 100th hit in the third inning Thursday. He beat out a routine grounder to first baseman John Kruk by sliding in ahead of pitcher Terry Mulholland, who was covering on the play.