PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Worrell Throws First No-Hitter in History of Las Vegas Franchise

Tim Worrell pitched the first no-hitter in the 10-year history of the Las Vegas Stars, walking four and striking out six Saturday in a 2-0 Pacific Coast League victory over the Phoenix Firebirds.

Worrell, a 25-year-old right-hander who is the younger brother of major leaguer Todd Worrell, tired in the eighth inning when he allowed two walks, but he got Joel Chimells on a grounder to end the threat to the Stars, the Padres’ triple-A club.

In the ninth, Worrell (4-2 since his promotion to the Stars from double-A Wichita) retired Todd Crosby on a grounder to short that was the closest the Firebirds came to getting a hit. Shortstop Luis Lopez, shading toward second, was able to cut off the grounder up the middle and throw Crosby out.

Worrell then got John Patterson on a tap back the mound, and cleanup hitter Steve Decker on another grounder to Lopez to close out the no-hitter.

The no-hitter was the first in Worrell’s minor league career, and the complete game was his first of the year.

While at Wichita, Worrell was 8-6 with a 2.86 ERA and one shutout. He is expected to be protected in the November expansion draft and earn an invitation to spring training, where he will be a candidate for a spot in the starting rotation.

Bruce Hurst, the Padres’ most dependable starter, has developed an inflammation in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder, and is questionable for Monday’s scheduled start, General Manager Joe McIlvaine said.

The Padres became concerned with Hurst after his last start Wednesday. His shoulder began throbbing the next day, and he has been undergoing treatment.

Hurst says he still hopes to make his start Monday against the Giants in San Francisco, but has been unable to pitch on the side between starts.

“It’s still sore,” Hurst said, “but it improved a lot from (Friday). It’s late in the year, and I’ve pitched a lot of innings (200 2/3).”

Hurst also has been troubled by a sore joint in his left shoulder all season, but X-rays during the season have been negative.

“What can I do?” Hurst said, “I’ll keep getting treatment and see what happens.”

Said McIlvaine: “I think there’s better than a 50-50 chance he’ll pitch, but we’ll see.”

The Ex-Padre Player of the Week award goes to starter Craig Lefferts, who became eligible for the award when he was traded Monday to the Baltimore Orioles.

Lefferts, who starts today, joins a team that has won six consecutive games and is only one-half game behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Orioles not only using their finances to make a trade to bolster them for the pennant stretch, but they expanded their roster to more than 30 players.

Imagine that.

The Padres have only 26 players on their active roster, although teams are allowed to expand to 40 in September.

“To me,” said one Padre veteran, “that’s more unbelievable than trading Lefferts in a pennant race.”

Said McIlvaine: “We may be a little bit short, but there’s not a whole lot for me to bring up as far as firepower. I don’t think there’s an immediate need. If you have a young player, I’d rather have him in the (minor-league) playoffs than sitting around up here.”

Umpire Ed Montague, on why he ejected Cub starter Greg Maddux for hitting Dan Walters, but not Padre reliever Jose Melendez for throwing over the head of Ryne Sandberg: “When you think about that, and try to add everything up, there was no reason for Melendez to throw at Ryno. Melendez’s control is not pinpoint. As far as I know, the Cubs and Padres have had no problems in the past. Those are the things that you have to weigh.

“I could have issued a warning, but that’s not going to stop Maddux. He’s a great competitor, and he’s going to protect his players.”

Hurst, watching his three sons become captivated before the game by Myers’ talk of the world of weapons: “All those years of parenting, down the drain.”

Although Deshaies has kept the Padres in the game in each of his last four starts, he has yielded a 5.84 ERA during that span. . . . The Padres’ double-A Wichita team defeated El Paso, 10-1, to move into the Texas League championships. Outfielder Ray McDavid, who spent the season at Class-A High Desert, hit a three-run homer in the victory.