| NEW YORK -- The struggling New York Yankees might have more
than just a losing streak to worry about.
| |  | |
| Hernandez |
Orlando Hernandez, who gave up nine runs in two-thirds of an
inning in Sunday's 17-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox, was taken to
Beth Israel North after the game.
"He complained of some minor pain in his elbow, so we're taking
him for some tests as a precautionary measure," team physician Dr.
Stuart Hershon said. "We're just being careful about it."
X-rays and an MRI test revealed that the 34-year-old
right-hander has an elbow sprain.
The team said the injury will be treated with rest and that
Hernandez will be evaluated on a daily basis prior to the
scheduling of his next start.
Hernandez left the game, the Yankees' fourth straight loss,
after retiring just two batters -- the second-shortest outing of his
career. His shortest was one-third of an inning in an 11-8 Yankees
victory over Seattle on Aug. 6, 1999.
"His elbow was bothering him," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
"It didn't bother him when he warmed up. He had no excuse. It
didn't bother him until he got to the bottom part of the batting
order. So he wasn't making an excuse for getting his rear end lit
up."
The nine runs allowed by Hernandez were the most against him
since the Angels scored 10 on 13 hits in 3 1/3 innings at Anaheim
on July 29, 1998.
"It looked like El Duque was hurting. It looked like he wasn't
right out there," Chicago's Chris Singleton said.
Torre seemed to agree with Singleton's assessment, saying that
Hernandez "didn't have a good fastball. He didn't have any pop."
Hernandez started the first by getting Ray Durham to ground out
on a play in which first baseman Tino Martinez cut off a grounder
in the hole, and flipped to a running Hernandez who leaped to get
the ball and beat a sliding Durham at first.
Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre visited the mound when it
appeared that Hernandez came down awkwardly on first base, but the
pitcher denied anything was wrong.
"He said he felt fine at that point," Torre said. "When he
came out of the game, he went in and volunteered to our trainers
that he felt something in his elbow. But he wasn't about to say
something on the mound after giving up nine runs. To him that would
have looked like an excuse."
Shortstop Jose Valentin walked and stole second before Frank
Thomas drove him in with an RBI double to start the scoring spree.
Paul Konerko hit an RBI single, Singleton a two-run double, and
Carlos Lee an RBI single before Mark Johnson singled and Durham
walked to set up Valentin's fifth career grand slam.
Hernandez was then relieved by Allen Watson.
The nine runs allowed were the most given up in one inning by
Yankees pitchers since the Phillies scored nine in the seventh
inning of an 11-5 victory at Philadelphia on June 8, 1999.
"Hopefully it's nothing that's going to cause any concern more
so than a little rest," Torre said. "But we won't know that until
we get the report." | |
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