BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : McReynolds Not Badly Hurt After Beaning in Exhibition

Left fielder Kevin McReynolds of the New York Mets was hit behind the left ear by a pitched ball during a split-squad game against the Montreal Expos at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

McReynolds, who hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat, was struck by Expo pitcher Tim Leary in the third inning.

McReynolds never lost consciousness, although he was carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for observation. The Mets said they did not believe he was seriously injured.

*

The winners of the American League’s East and Central divisions will have the home-field advantage in the new round of playoffs this year, as will the winners of the National League’s Central and West divisions.

Under the agreement signed between the players’ union and the owners’ Player Relations Committee, the AL East and NL West winners will have the home advantage in the league championship series if they advance that far. If a wild-card team wins in the first round, the home field would switch to the winner of the other series.