News
Owings has perforated eardrum
Reliever to miss rest of series with Rockies
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
09/07/09 2:57 PM ET
DENVER -- Reds pitcher Micah Owings avoided a concussion from his Sunday beaning in the helmet but not an injury that could keep him out for a little while. Owings was diagnosed with a perforated eardrum. The right-hander remained in Atlanta and will not be able to fly. He is scheduled to visit an ear, nose and throat doctor there Tuesday. It's unlikely that Owings will be able to rejoin the Reds while in Colorado for four games. "We are shooting for Chicago [on Friday]," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He told me he'd drive to Chicago if he had to." In the 12th inning of a 4-2 win over the Braves on Sunday, Owings was batting with the bases loaded when he was hit by a 92-mph fastball from right-hander Kenshin Kawakami. It gave Cincinnati the go-ahead run. Owings spent several moments on the ground but never lost consciousness. He had a gash around his ear that required five stitches. "He wanted it known that Kawakami called him after the game to see how he was doing," Baker said. "[Kawakami] was pretty shook up." A CT scan revealed no concussion for Owings. An Atlanta-area resident, he at least has the good fortune of being able to stay at home with his family until he is cleared to fly.Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
