Saturday, May 22, 1999

Gwynn to go on DL with strained calf

---

BY BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

Tony Gwynn will miss at least two weeks. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        SAN DIEGO — Tony Gwynn's hit parade has been knocked off pace by at least two weeks.

        Gwynn, 25 hits short of 3,000, strained his left calf coming out of the batter's box in the first inning of the San Diego Padres' 5-4 win Friday night over the Cincinnati Reds.

        He had to be helped off the field, supported by a trainer and a teammate. Gwynn left the stadium on crutches, his lower left leg in a walking cast. General manager Kevin Towers said the batting star will go on the 15-day disabled list today.

        “In 15 days we'll see how it feels, because right now it doesn't feel real good,” Gwynn said.

        Facing Brett Tomko, Gwynn hit a two-hopper to second base to start an inning-ending double play.

        “I topped the ball so I knew I had to go,” Gwynn said. “First step it grabbed me, second step, I just couldn't go. So I was hopping down the line. The crowd reaction to me was funny because I know they were following the ball to second to short to first, and when they threw to first, I was nowhere to be seen.”

        He was hopping down the line, keeping all his weight on his right foot. Gwynn was easily thrown out.

        The 39-year-old Gwynn grimaced as he was tended to by a team trainer. Manager Bruce Bochy and several players came out to check on the eight-time NL batting champion.

        Gwynn said his teammates thought he had torn his Achilles' tendon, which would have been really bad news.

        “When the doctors started checking it right away, everybody was like taking a sigh of relief that it wasn't the Achilles,” said Gwynn, who strained his right calf in 1993. “It hurt almost as bad as the other one, or the Achilles'. I mean, it just grabbed me.”

        Gwynn left the game hitting .333.

        Gwynn said he's done a lot of talking the last couple of weeks about his pursuit of 3,000 hits.

        “Maybe it's just the good Lord giving me a sign, "Hey, you've just got to concentrate on your job and just go out and take care of business.”

---

Reds Stories

Lindner has big plans for ballpark Meekly, Marge makes exit Major details of stadium lease Lindner's Reds a business, not a 3-ring circus Tim Sullivan column PADRES 5, REDS 4 Neagle weakness confirmed by specialist Wohlers has another setback Avery feels ready for Sunday start Gwynn to go on DL with strained calf Vaughn's ring ceremony less than formal Box, runs

Reds page