Jay returns from shoulder woes for series finale

SAN DIEGO — On Tuesday night, the Padres were contemplating getting tests done on Jon Jay’s sore shoulder, and a stint on the disabled list for the center fielder seemed very possible. For a club struggling in the on-base department, the prospect of losing its leadoff man was not pretty.

Then, the next morning, Jay rolled out of bed — and the soreness had dissipated almost entirely. One day later, he was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Friday in Milwaukee, when he sustained the injury while diving for a fly ball.

“Yesterday was a big day for me,” Jay said before Thursday’s series finale vs. the Giants. “I took a big step over the hump with that soreness I had, and I’m ready to go.”

Said Padres manager Andy Green: “We need him. He’s a big part of the team. Having him out there leading us from the leadoff spot — and out in center field, running the show out there — he does a really good job of it. We’re thrilled to have him back.”

Jay’s return is more positive injury news for a club that didn’t have much of it this season — until this week. On Wednesday, Alexi Amarista became the first of 10 players to …

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