Padres get much-needed outfielder from Astros

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Needing a fast fix in their injury-depleted outfield, the San Diego Padres acquired Jason Lane from the Houston Astros on Monday for a player to be named or cash.

Lane was batting .178 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs for the Astros this season.

He had 61 homers and 189 RBIs in 494 major league games from 2002-07.

The Padres, in the middle of a tight pennant race, lost two starting outfielders to injuries Sunday: left fielder Milton Bradley and center fielder Mike Cameron.

Lane can help fill in during the final week of the season, but he wouldn’t be eligible to play for the Padres if they reach the playoffs because they acquired him after the Aug. 31 deadline.

Bradley will miss the rest of the year after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee when he was spun to the ground by his own manager during a blowup with an umpire.

Cameron tore a ligament in his right thumb when Bradley stepped on his hand as they pursued an inside-the-park home run by Colorado’s Garrett Atkins.

San Diego manager Bud Black said before Monday night’s game at San Francisco that Cameron might be able to pinch-run this week, but that would be it.