Injuries Take Toll on 2 Players

Outfielder Luis Tinoco and right-hander Allan Westfall returned from doctor’s appointments Wednesday night with bad news.

Westfall, who has had back pain since spring training, learned he has a bulging disc and will be out six to eight weeks. Westfall was placed on the disabled list. His spot will be taken by right-hander Rafael Rivera, from double-A Memphis.

Tinoco, who has been on the disabled list since April 18, was given until Monday to decide if he will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, which has been sore since the start of spring training. Two MRIs have not detected an injury, but pain persists.

“I’ve been [rehabilitating] for a month and nothing has happened,” Tinoco said.

If arthroscopic surgery reveals a serious injury, Tinoco may need reconstructive surgery.

Westfall, who signed late last year out of the University of Miami, said he was disappointed to have his first pro season cut short after pitching only 10 2/3 innings.

“I’ve never been shut down like this,” he said. “I feel like I’m not part of the team anymore.”

Rivera began the season with the JetHawks, but immediately went on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. When he was healthy, he was sent to double A to fill in for other injured pitchers.

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Tonight’s game: JetHawks (Eric Morgan, 1-1, 4.28) at Visalia (Jake O’Dell, 1-0, 2.33), 7:05.

AROUND THE LEAGUES

Keith Evans’ experience playing with Class-A Cape Fear, the Montreal Expos’ affiliate in Fayetteville, N.C., has been something of a surprise for the right-hander.

“I think it’s tougher to pitch [in the Six-Pac] than it is here,” said Evans, who pitched at Crespi High and California. “There is no possible way to [give up] a big inning here. You could go into a metal-bat game and give up six or seven runs in an inning.”

Evans, who signed late last summer and did not make his pro debut until this spring, gave up two runs in six innings Wednesday night, improving to 4-2. He has a 2.82 earned-run average.

That’s quite an improvement over the 4.90 ERA Evans had last spring at Cal. He said wooden bats make all the difference. In the South Atlantic League, Evans has already faced a few hitters who owned him in college, and Evans said he has been getting them all back.

“It was kind of funny,” he said. “It’s a whole different game here.”

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Chris Fick, who two weeks ago asked for his release from the San Francisco Giants organization rather than take a demotion to the California League, has signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who assigned him to the High Desert Mavericks of, yes, the California League.

Fick, an outfielder from Newbury Park High and Cal Lutheran who hit 19 home runs in double-A Arkansas last season, believes the Mavericks offer a better opportunity because they are the Diamondbacks’ highest-level farm team.

Fick doubled in his Maverick debut Tuesday and had two hits, including a double, Wednesday. He is three for seven in two games with High Desert.

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Scanning Wednesday box scores: TRIPLE A--Catcher Tim Laker (Simi Valley, Oxnard College) hit a three-run home run, his third, for Rochester. DOUBLE A--First baseman Kevin Millar (Hart) had three hits, including his sixth home run, for Portland, Maine. . . . Outfielder J.P. Roberge (St. Francis) had three hits, including a double, for San Antonio. Roberge is batting .363. . . . Right-hander Craig Clayton (Cal State Northridge), recently promoted from Rancho Cucamonga, pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his first appearance for Mobile. CLASS A--Outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. (Granada Hills, Mission) had a single and a double for Rancho Cucamonga. . . . First baseman Nate Dishington (Hoover) had a single and a triple for Prince William, which plays in Woodbridge, Va. . . . Right-hander Anthony Dellamano (Westlake) pitched 2 1/3 hitless innings to pick up his fourth save for Port Charlotte, Fla. . . . Left-hander Chris Garza (Notre Dame) pitched a scoreless inning for Fort Wayne, Ind., lowering his ERA to 2.20. . . . First baseman Robert Fick (Newbury Park, Ventura College, Northridge) had three hits, including his 13th double, for West Michigan, which plays in Comstock Park. Fick, who has a hit in all 16 games he’s played in, raised his average to a Midwest League-leading .418, with an 11-for-18 streak in four games.