PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : Howard, Ward, Peterson Join Team

SAN DIEGO —  In their continuing search for A) healthy bodies, and, B) players who can hit, the Padres on Friday moved up three players from triple-A Las Vegas, sent one down, released one and put one on the disabled list.

Pitcher Adam Peterson and outfielder Thomas Howard were recalled, and the Padres purchased the contract of outfielder Kevin Ward. Ward started Friday night in left field, and Peterson will start tonight against Montreal’s Dennis Martinez.

The Padres placed Jerald Clark, who has been out the past 10 days with a sore Achilles, on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 1; they optioned pitcher Derek Lilliquist to Las Vegas; and they asked for waivers on outfielder Mike Aldrete for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.

“We’re going through a tough period right now,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. “We’re banged up. Half the pitching staff is down right now. But nobody’s giving up. We’ll be all right. This is a golden opportunity to look at players.

“You have to look at it that way.”

The Padres saw more than enough of Aldrete, who was 0 for 15 this season, and Lilliquist, who takes an 0-2 record and 11.42 ERA with him.

McIlvaine on Aldrete: “He just hasn’t been productive, unfortunately. He just didn’t do it.”

McIlvaine on Lilliquist: “He’s just got to keep the ball down better.”

Peterson is a right-hander who was 1-1 with a 4.78 ERA in five starts for Las Vegas. Howard, a switch-hitter, opened the season with the Padres before being sent to Las Vegas April 11. Since then, he has hit .309 with two homers and 16 RBIs in 25 games.

The most surprising recall is Ward, 29, who bounced around the minors since 1983 in the Philadelphia and Oakland organizations before signing Jan. 24 with the Padres as a minor league free agent. A right-handed batter who hit .297 with 10 homers, 60 RBIs and 24 stolen bases last season at Tacoma, he was batting .355 with eight RBIs in 23 games for Las Vegas.

Pitcher Greg Harris, on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow, said he will test his arm by playing catch today. “I don’t know if I’ll throw to a mitt or off the mound,” he said. Harris said he “definitely” feels some improvement. . . . Ed Lynch, director of minor league operations, said the Padres are still negotiating to sign left-hander Joe Price.