BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Giants’ Swift Is Out Until at Least June 2

The San Francisco Giants put pitcher Bill Swift on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, retroactive to May 18, because of inflammation in the muscle under his right armpit.

Swift, who leads the Giants’ staff with a 6-3 record and a 2.61 earned-run average, will be eligible to pitch again on June 2. He returned to San Francisco from San Diego to be examined by the team physician, Warren King.

Swift, the 1993 National League Cy Young Award runner-up to the Atlanta Braves’ Greg Maddux, was hurt while pitching in Houston on May 17. Bill Van Landingham will make his first major league start today against the Padres, in place of Swift, who will be replaced on the roster by right-handed reliever Tony Menendez, recalled from triple-A Phoenix.

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St. Louis’ Allen Watson and Bernard Gilkey and Florida’s Orestes Destrade were suspended by the National League for participating in a bench-clearing brawl, and shortly thereafter, the Marlins decided to part company with Destrade.

Watson was suspended for eight games for intentionally hitting Destrade with a pitch and then throwing his glove at Destrade after he charged the mound Sunday during a game in Miami. Watson hit Destrade in the back after giving up three home runs to the Marlins in the second inning. Gilkey was suspended for four games for making contact with an umpire during the melee.

Destrade was suspended for four games for charging the mound and hitting Watson.

The Marlins designated Destrade’s contract for assignment, which gives them 10 days to determine his status. Options include trading or releasing him.

“I don’t agree with the decision they’re making,” said Destrade, 32, who was batting .208. “I know I’ve struggled this year. It still comes as a surprise.”

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Umpires Ken Kaiser and Mark Johnson were treated at hospitals after a minor auto accident less than an hour before the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Red Sox in Boston.

The game began with only two umpires, John Shulock and Tim Tschida, but was called after two scoreless innings because of rain.

Kaiser, 48, and Johnson, 43, were treated and released from separate hospitals, spokesmen said. Kaiser’s rental car was hit in the rear by a van about two blocks from Fenway Park at about 6:10 p.m., state trooper Matthew Favale said.

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Clyde Silvey, the first public address announcer for the San Francisco Giants, died after a long illness in Oakland. He was 75.