The Associated Press

ST.

Thursday, August 16, 2001

ST. LOUIS – Cincinnati Reds third baseman Aaron Boone will be sidelined 2-4 weeks with a fractured right wrist sustained when he was hit by a pitch Tuesday.

Boone was hit by a Matt Morris pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, driving in the only run in a 7-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was batting .297 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs, third best on the team, but was in a 4-for-25 slump.

Boone will fly to Cincinnati on Thursday to be examined by Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the Reds’ medical director. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and the Reds are expected to fill the roster spot by purchasing the contract of right-hander Jose Rijo.

Rijo, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 1995, likely will be used in relief.

This is the second stint on the disabled list this year for Boone, son of Reds manager Bob Boone. He was out about a month with a broken bone in his right hand after being hit by a pitch by Houston’s Wade Miller on May 14.

Boone was limited to 84 games last year by a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.