PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Harris’ Injury Means the Padres Are Again Looking For a Starter

SAN FRANCISCO —  The sound you heard from the Bay Area on Sunday was not another earthquake, but the Padres screaming for help.

Just when they believed their pitching woes were on the verge of being settled, the Padres now find themselves in the stickiest predicament of the season.

They lost No. 3 starter Greg Harris on Sunday when he sustained a fractured finger, which will put him out of action until at least August. No. 4 starter Craig Lefferts has a stiff back, and is question for his next start. No. 5 Frank Seminara has made only four starts in his major league career, and the Padres still have questions whether he’s ready. No. 2 starter Andy Benes has won only one game in the last month. And No. 1 starter Bruce Hurst wants to be traded.

“It’s like it’s all happening at once,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “We really thought our pitching was coming around, and then all of these injuries hit us at once. What can you do?”

This is why it was only understandable Sunday when Padre reliever Rich Rodriguez was asked whether he’d abandon his bullpen role and move into the rotation.

Why not? He has been the Padres’ most dominant pitcher out of the bullpen the past few weeks, and shut down the San Francisco Giants for five innings Sunday. Never has he looked better.

“He’s been just outstanding,” Riddoch said. “He’s done an amazing job for us all year, and he just continues to get better.”

Yet, although Rodriguez realizes there’s much more glamour as a starter than a middle reliever, and probably would pay more, he’s happy to stay put, thank you.

“If they want me to be their starter, I’ll do it,” said Rodriguez, who lowered his ERA to a team-low 1.84. “But to me, I’m much more effective come out of the bullpen in the middle innings where I can keep the team close. I’d like to see someone else come from the minor leagues and take the (starting) role.

“Really, I think I can be more valuable to the team to stay where I am.”

Padre bullpen stopper Randy Myers, who has not been in a save situation since June 2, also could be considered as a longshot candidate for a starter’s job. After all, he started 12 games for the Cincinnati Reds last season.

“I’d do it if they want,” Myers said, “I’m pitching only once every five days anyway. But I’d just as soon stay where I am.”

Indeed, the Padres likely will resist any temptations to tamper with their bullpen and will probably purchase the contract of Mark Knudson of triple-A Las Vegas this week. Knudson has pitched 15 shutout innings, and it’s possible the Padres will purchase his contract Wednesday in case Lefferts is unavailable Thursday.

It was just two months ago in San Francisco when the Padres, believing they needed a defensive specialist in the outfield, signed free agent Gary Pettis.

Now, in the same city where he made his National League debut with the Padres, Pettis was told that his services were no longer needed. He was released, to no one’s surprise, to make room for Padre starter Greg Harris.

“Our original plan was that we needed him for defensive help,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said, “but our needs changed. We need more offense now. We just don’t have the luxury of having a defensive replacement around.”

This is the second time this season Pettis has been released, previously being cast aside this spring by the Texas Rangers. It could signify the end of his major league career, which started in 1979 as a member of the Angels organization.

Pettis batted .200 in 30 games with the Padres, obtaining only one extra-base hit. He was used primarily as defensive replacement, going three for 13 (.231) as a pinch-hitter.

“He’s a good kid, a (top-)quality person, who accepted his role,” Riddoch said. “It’s just a thing where we have to get offense, and we’ll see what we can do in the next week.”

The Padres are expected to purchase the contract of left-handed hitter Phil Stephenson from triple-A Las Vegas. Stephenson, who’s hitting .345 with eight homers and 43 RBIs, will platoon in left field with either Kevin Ward or Jerald Clark.

The Padres were left with only three position players on their bench for Sunday’s game.

First baseman Fred McGriff is still out with a strained rib cage, and outfielder Oscar Azocar left the team to travel to Venezuela to be with his wife, Liliana. She went into labor Saturday, and is expected to give birth to twin girls.

Padre reliever Jose Melendez (5-4) lost his first game in relief since last season. Melendez had been 5-0 with a 0.98 ERA out of the bullpen.

“We tried something soft so we could get a ground ball or something,” Melendez said of the changeup to Bass. “I just got the pitch up a little bit, and I knew it was trouble.”

Padre reliever Larry Andersen, who pitched two perfect innings Saturday, said his fastball and slider were working as well as they have all season.

Still, he’s not sure if he’s getting the respect he deserves.

“I strike someone out with my fastball,” Andersen deadpanned, “and they dump him.”

Indeed, the Giants optioned rookie shortstop Royce Clayton to triple-A Phoenix after the game, just three innings after he struck out on Andersen’s fastball.