ARLINGTON, Texas -- Toronto shortstop Tony Fernandez will be sidelined at least a month with a fractured right cheekbone suffered when he was hit by a Cecilio Guante fastball Friday night, a Blue Jays spokesman said Saturday.
Fernandez was struck in the eighth inning of a 10-9 Blue Jays' victory over the Texas Rangers.
He did not lose consciousness but was carried off the field on a stretcher and was taken to Arlington Memorial Hospital. His injury was diagnosed as a depression fracture of the ziegomatic arch, a bone in the cheek near the ear.
A CATscan Saturday was negative, and Fernandez was scheduled for surgery Monday in Arlington by Dr. James Harrington. The Blue Jays say he will be out from four to six weeks and have placed him on the 21-day disabled list.
Ferandez' face was swollen but he was alert Saturday. He was visited by several teammates, and his wife Clara flew in from the Dominican Republic to see him.
Infielder Alexis Infante was purchased from Syracuse of the International League to replace Fernandez on the roster. Manny Lee will move from second base to shortstop and Nelson Liriano will start at second in Fernandez' absence.
Before Saturday night's game against the Rangers, the Blue Jays had lost their last 15 games without Fernandez in the starting lineup. Toronto lost its final seven games in 1987 after Fernandez suffered a dislocated elbow and the Blue Jays were 0-8 when Fernandez did not start in 1988.
