White Sox 1B Konerko has mild knee sprain

Sep 10, 2008 - 7:31 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- An MRI performed Wednesday confirmed that Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko suffered a mild left MCL sprain during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Konerko, officially listed as day-to-day, is hopeful that he can return to the lineup before the end of the season.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, however, was less optimistic.

"I got the news from Hermie (Chicago trainer Herman Schneider), and he said day-to-day," Guillen told the team's official web site. "And I said, week-by-week. This injury can't stop the season. We have to continue to move on and fight."

The White Sox (80-64), whose lead over the Minnesota Twins (79-65) in the American League Central Division was sliced to one game after they were swept in Tuesday's doubleheader, have 18 contests remaining.

If Konerko is sidelined for an extended period, the White Sox will be losing one of their hottest hitters. While he went 0-for-4 in the doubleheader, Konerko is batting just under .400 in his last 15 games with five home runs and 11 RBI.

Konerko was on the disabled list for the first time in his career before the All-Star break with a Grade 1 strain of his left oblique muscle. His latest injury occurred during a rundown play in the top of the fifth after he took a relay throw from right fielder Jermaine Dye following a single from the Blue Jays' Alex Rios.

Halfway between first and second base on the play, Konerko threw toward second base when his right leg gave way.

The three-time All-Star fell to the ground and immediately clutched his knee in pain. He needed the help of the team's medical staff to leave the field and as he was reluctant to put any weight on the injured limb.

"All I could think about on the ground was, 'Is that what it feels like when you blow your knee out?'" Konerko said. "It scared me more than anything. It did hurt, but the pain went away."

Konerko is batting .244 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI this season.