THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 9, 1994 TAG: 9408090541
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Quilvio Veras, the Tides' All-Star second baseman, has missed the last two games with a rib cage strain and it remains uncertain how long he will be sidelined.
Veras, 23, complained of pain high in his right rib cage Saturday, according to trainer Fred Hina. Veras played both games of that night's doubleheader, but was held out Sunday when the pain worsened.
``Could be two days, could be two months,'' Hina said of Veras' possible inactivity. A visit to the Mets' team doctor in New York might be in order as well, Hina said.
Veras, who is already playing with a small labrum tear in his right shoulder, is batting .265 with no home runs and 37 RBIs. He is tied for the International League lead with 29 stolen bases in 45 attempts.
A career .320 hitter in the minors before this season, Veras was batting and has been especially hot of late, with hits in seven of his last nine games and a .364 average.
He is also one of about 10 players in the league with more walks than strikeouts. Veras has walked 48 times and been fanned 47.
PITCHER O' THE WEEK: Lefthander Eric Hillman was named the league's pitcher of the week for his 2-0 combined shutout over Richmond and his 3-2 complete-game decision over Syracuse.
Hillman worked 14 2/3 innings and gave up nine hits and no earned runs, walking two and striking out seven. He is 7-1 with a 2.86 earned-run average in 12 starts.
40-MAN MOVES: Outfielder Shawn Hare and pitchers Kenny Greer and Frank Seminara have cleared waivers and been outrighted to the Tides, which means they were taken off the Mets' 40-man roster.
That leaves the Tides with eight players who are among the Mets' 40-man roster. However, catcher Brook Fordyce and outfielder Tito Navarro are probably out for the season with injuries, second baseman Veras is currently sidelined as well and another, Jeff McKnight, is on a medical rehabilitation assignment from New York.
The other roster players are Butch Huskey, Aaron Ledesma, Juan Castillo and Pete Walker.
HITTING THE ROAD: The Tides begin a six-game trip to Ohio tonight in Columbus. They return to Harbor Park against Columbus on Aug. 15. by CNB