Frightening injury

Another lesson in the importance of pool safety:

Oakland first baseman Daric Barton smacked his head on the bottom of a pool during the all-star break, needing six staples to close the gash and leaving him with a neck strain, the Associated Press reported. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday.

Barton said he dove into a friend's pool and, not realizing how shallow it was, hit his head on the bottom. He never lost consciousness, but blood began flowing down his face and he went to an emergency room.

Doctors sealed the cut with six staples that are clearly visible atop Barton's head. He is slated to have the staples removed Wednesday and hopes to be back on the field for workouts within a week.

"My head's fine. I jarred my neck a little bit," he said. "Left side is pretty good; it's just the right side. I can't move to the right, pretty much."

Athletics manager Bob Geren wasn't entirely sympathetic with the 22-year-old Barton, who is batting .224 with three home runs and 25 RBIs.

"You have mixed feelings about it," Geren said. "Obviously, the injury could be worse, but you're upset about it a little bit. It seemed to be a careless mistake that hurt the team."

The A's recalled Wes Bankston from triple-A Sacramento and started him at first base in yesterday's 4-3, 12-inning loss to the Yankees.

Checking in

Here at Low&Outside, we like to keep track of local products. That said, let's catch up with a pair of area grads: Chris Lubanski and Carl Loadenthal.

Lubanski, from Kennedy-Kenrick High in Norristown, and Loadenthal, from William Tennent in Warminster, are outfielders playing triple-A ball.

Lubanski, 23, chosen fifth in the first round of the 2003 amateur draft by the Royals, was batting .232 with 34 RBIs, 14 doubles and eight home runs for Omaha before last night's Pacific Coast League game against Round Rock.

The 26-year-old Loadenthal, signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent in 2003, was hitting .304 with 10 runs scored in 31 games for Richmond. He batted .227 in 26 games this season for double-A Mississippi.

Notable

Seattle southpaw Erik Bedard, on the DL with tightness in his throwing shoulder, is not expected to pitch in a game soon. "I would say if we wait another 10 days and get into August, we'd be looking at a rehab assignment," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. . . . Angels outfielder Gary Matthews was held out of the lineup yesterday against the Red Sox. He was scheduled to meet with a team orthopedist to discuss the results of an MRI on his ailing left knee. . . . Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon took several swings during batting practice before yesterday's win over the A's. He was placed on the DL earlier this month with a sprained left shoulder. . . . The Indians and Mariners wore uniforms from 1989 for yesterday's game. The occasion? According to the Indians' team notes, "for no apparent reason." . . . Boston's David Ortiz homered for the third consecutive game during a rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Pawtucket.

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This article contains information from the Associated Press.

Contact staff writer Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019

or robrien@phillynews.com.