The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. - Texas right fielder Carl Everett was hit in the back of the head with a cell phone thrown by a fan in the Rangers' 12-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

The male fan was arrested, according to A's spokesman Jim Young, and Everett said he planned to press charges. Everett was discussing it with an Oakland police officer after the game in the clubhouse.

"Luckily I was wearing a hat," Everett said. "If it wasn't for the hat, I'd be cut back there. That fan should be ashamed of himself."

Everett was hit four days after umpire Laz Diaz was attacked by a fan at U.S. Cellular field in Chicago during a White Sox-Royals game.

"This is always happening in major league baseball and maybe now they'll do something about it," Everett said. "I'm going to be pressing charges. Fans pointed him out and they arrested him. It's just ignorance and alcohol and probably too much of both. That's what causes this."

An officer answering at the Oakland Police Department patrol desk said he had no information on the arrest.

Everett complained to umpires before the start of the sixth inning that he had been hit.

"I tossed it over the fence," Everett said of the phone. "We are all going to be heckled in this game. That's part of it. But it's wrong to throw stuff."

Security was beefed up in the area, and Oakland's Terrence Long picked something up and threw it back into the stands when he got out there in the sixth.

"We have great fans here and there's no room for fans to throw things on the field," A's manager Ken Macha said. "When I saw what was happening, I immediately pointed out our head of security to the home plate umpire."

Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki has been hit by coins tossed by Oakland fans. Suzuki said he once collected 55 cents.

"That's got to stop," Texas' Rafael Palmeiro said. "When is this thing going to end? Someone is going to get hurt. It's dangerous to go out on the field and play baseball. We're all isolated out there. We're on an island by ourselves."

Rangers manager Buck Showalter said there's only so much security can do to control fans.

"At some point, the people themselves have to change," Showalter said. "It's lucky he didn't get hurt any more. I would have reacted very similar."

On Wednesday, Sandy Alderson, a vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office, said baseball is fed up with fan violence and will do everything in its power to eliminate the problem.

"We will spare no expenses," Alderson said.

"We will do whatever is necessary to maximize the consequences for those individuals who intrude on the field or assault or make any attempt to interact with umpires, players or coaches or fans in the stands."

A call to Alderson was not immediately returned Saturday night.

DIAMONDBACKS: Pitcher Curt Schilling underwent an appendectomy but might miss only one start.

Schilling was in pain Friday when the Diamondbacks arrived in St. Louis for the start of a three-game series. Cardinals team doctors recommended surgery.

Schilling could be released from the hospital as soon as today but probably won't return to Arizona until Tuesday or Wednesday.

BRAVES: Catcher Javy Lopez left Saturday's game against Philadelphia with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. He is batting .259 with three homers and eight RBI.

• Jason Marquis, considered one of the Braves' most promising young pitchers, was sent to the minors to make room for Mike Hampton to come off the disabled list.

Marquis has no decisions and a 6.57 ERA in 12 1/3 innings.

DEVIL RAYS: First baseman Travis Lee, who has a strained right oblique muscle, was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 14, and outfielder George Lombard was recalled from Triple-A Durham.

Lee is batting .347 with one home run and five RBI this season.

YANKEES: New York sent pitcher Jose Contreras to Triple-A Columbus and recalled left-hander Randy Choate. Contreras, who signed a $32 million, four-year contract this winter after a stellar career in Cuba, was 1-0 with a 10.80 ERA in five appearances for the Yankees.

INDIANS: Cleveland activated right-hander Aaron Myette, who has been on the DL since March 28 because of a strained a right quadriceps, and sent right-hander Chad Paronto to Triple-A Buffalo.

Phillies:

The Philadelphia Phillies activated Brandon Duckworth from the disabled list to make his first start of the season Sunday against the Braves.

Right-hander Eric Junge was optioned to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, clearing room for Duckworth on the 25-man roster.

Duckworth started the season on the disabled list because of tendinitis in his right elbow. He was 8-9 with a 5.41 ERA last season.

Junge pitched five games with the Phillies, all in relief. He had a 2.70 ERA in 6 2-3 innings.

Joe Roa, who went 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts filling in for Duckworth, will return to the bullpen.