PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : Strained Hamstring to Sideline Walters From Three to Five Days

Pop went the hamstring, and down went Padre catcher Dan Walters.

It happened in the second inning of the Padres’ 7-3 victory over Cincinnati Wednesday, and Manager Greg Riddoch said he is expecting Walters to be out from three to five days.

Infielder Craig Shipley will be Benito Santiago’s emergency backup.

“They say it’s just a strain; it’s not totally blown,” Walters said. “It’s sore and stiff now.”

Walters injured his right hamstring while rounding second after singling in the second. Although he attempted to walk it off and even remained on third for a couple of pitches, Padre third-base coach Bruce Kimm eventually called for time and Walters was removed from the game.

“It just got to the point where I thought it would go away in a minute or two,” said Walters, who added that he has never before pulled a muscle. “But it lingered and, if there was a ground ball, I knew I wouldn’t be able to go (home) full speed.”

It was the first start since July 19 for Walters, who is batting .281.

Outfielder Darrin Jackson hit his 12th homer in the second inning, giving him 46 RBIs--only three short of the career-high 49 he had last summer. But Jackson is aware that he already has more at-bats this summer (366) than last (359).

“You look at my ratio in home runs (21 last year) and RBIs, and they’re down,” Jackson said. “I feel like I’m swinging the bat good, but not as good as last year. I’m not as comfortable. I felt good every at-bat last year, and this year has been tougher. It’s easier to get tired and lose your concentration when you’re playing every day.”

The Padres even got a homer from Kurt Stillwell on Wednesday--his second of the season. He still is nowhere close to his career high of 10, which came in Kansas City in 1988.

“Actually, it’s 11, but I hit one that hit the foul pole that year and they called it foul,” said Stillwell, still smarting. “And the next day, Rich Gedman hit one that hit the foul pole, and they called it foul, too. It’s just tough to pick it up there, for some reason.”

In his first start of his second rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday night at triple-A Las Vegas, Dave Eiland allowed two runs on six hits in five innings during the Stars’ 3-2 loss in Tucson. Eiland walked one and struck out three. . . . After going 0 for 3, Tony Gwynn is batting .313, his lowest average since April 17.