Padres’ Problems Exposed : Baseball: Montreal wins, 4-3, and extends the Padres’ losing streak.

MONTREAL —  Padre bullpen stopper Randy Myers sat on the bullpen mound Wednesday night, too numb to budge.

Second baseman Kurt Stillwell stood transfixed at home plate, swinging his bat in an imaginary line, oblivious to the Montreal Expos celebrating on the field.

Padre Manager Greg Riddoch sat in the dugout, staring at the scoreboard, waiting for another inning.

The Padres lost once again, 4-3, to the Expos at Olympic Stadium, but it was as if they refused to believe it, not wanting to leave the country.

Sitting on top of the world only two weeks ago, the Padres now have lost four consecutive games, five of their last six, and 13 of 19?

All you need to know about the Padres’ demise is that they have used Myers only once in the last 10 days. There’s not much need for a stopper when there are no leads to protect. The Padres have had the lead in only five of the last 45 innings.

“It’s the first time this season where we’re starting to question ourselves,” said Tony Gwynn, Padre right fielder. “Are we going to hit? Are we going to get pitching? Are we going to be OK?

“I think we’ll be all right, but man, we need that win. And we need it quick.”

The Padres (13-15), who have lost 13 of their last 19 games, suddenly have become awfully concerned about their future in the National League West race.

Although the Padre management continues to support left fielder Jerald Clark, they privately are wondering how long they can be patient. Clark, batting only .180 this season, struck out three more times Wednesday.

“We know he can hit,” Gwynn said, “but when you open the season like he has, the first thing that goes is your confidence. Right now, the frustration is overwhelming for him.”

They wonder how long before it will be necessary to overhaul their starting rotation. The rotation is 6-11 with a 4.39 ERA this year, allowing a league-high 10.01 hits per nine innings. Starter Dave Eiland went on the disabled list Wednesday, likely prompting the Padres to move reliever Jose Melendez into the rotation. Rookie Frank Seminara expected to join him within two weeks.

Andy Benes (2-3) who allowed eight hits and four runs in six innings, has even been victimized in the drought. He lost his third consecutive start for the first time since Sept. 20-Oct. 1, 1990. After giving up only 12 runs in a 96-inning span covering 13 starts, he now has allowed 18 earned runs in 16 2/3 innings for a 9.72 ERA.

“It just seems like that’s the way things have been going around here,” Benes said. “What can you do?”

The Padres should have known it would be one of those nights in the first inning, even before third baseman Gary Sheffield was scratched just before game time because of a loose tendon in his right wrist.

Tony Fernandez opened the game with a double into the left-field corner. Gwynn followed by unleashing a long fly ball over the head of center fielder Marquis Grissom.

Well . . . almost over his head.

Grissom, sprinting toward the wall, put his glove up at the last moment, and made an over-the-shoulder catch.

Oh, there were plenty of other snapshot memories. There was Stillwell slamming his fist on the artificial turf when Grissom’s ground ball skidded underneath his glove in the fifth inning that paved the way for two runs. There was Fernandez rounding third base, and stopping, looking in disbelief that Expo second baseman Delino DeShields smothered Gwynn’s bouncer up the middle, saving a run.

“We’re not getting away with anything right now,” Riddoch said.

Even when the Padres seemed to catch a break, scoring two runs in the seventh without an official at-bat, and obtaining a leadoff single in the ninth when Santiago’s line drive trickled out of first baseman Tim Wallach’s glove, the Padres couldn’t take advantage.

Expo starter Ken Hill (3-2) opened the seventh by walking Tim Teufel and Clark. Jeff Fassero relieved Hill, and catcher Darrin Fletcher promptly allowed a passed ball, allowing Teufel and Clark to advance to second and third.

Stillwell hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Teufel and allowing Clark to advance to third. And pinch-hitter Kevin Ward followed with another sacrifice fly, scoring Clark, cutting the Expos’ lead to 4-3. It wasn’t until Fernandez’s groundout to shortstop for the third out that the Padres had their first official at-bat.