Padres Put Caminiti on DL

The National League West-leading San Diego Padres will be without one of their top offensive players after All-Star third baseman Ken Caminiti was put on the disabled list Tuesday because of an injury to his left quadriceps.

Caminiti, the 1996 National League most valuable player, has been bothered by the injury for several weeks and left Thursday’s game against Florida after running the bases. He played Friday but was then sent back to San Diego for an additional examination.

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Left-hander Ben VanRyn was acquired by San Diego from the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Don Wengert.

VanRyn, 26, was 0-0 with a 3.38 earned-run average in nine relief appearances for the Cubs this season. Wengert, 28, had one save and a 5.93 ERA in 10 relief appearances for San Diego.

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The Milwaukee Brewers put right-hander Jose Mercedes on the 15-day disabled list after he had the second-worst performance in club history as the Padres routed the Brewers, 13-5, Monday night. He gave up 11 runs on 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

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Chris Hammond, who was part of the first pitching rotation in Florida Marlin history, will rejoin the team and start Thursday against the Dodgers.

Hammond, 32, joined the Marlins’ triple-A affiliate in Charlotte after being released in March by the Kansas City Royals.