BASEBALL / ROSS NEWHAN : NAMES AND NUMBERS

--Frightening: Kevin Seitzer of the Milwaukee Brewers suffered a multiple fracture of his left sinus cavity when hit by Melido Perez’s fastball in a Monday night game with the New York Yankees, but returned to the lineup Tuesday. The pitch caught part of Seitzer’s ear flap, and he was able to joke about it later.

“When I went down, I said, ‘I’m going to open my eyes and see if I’m in heaven or Milwaukee.’ ” he said. “They can’t be mistaken for each other.”

--No Surprise: Only two players selected in the first round of the June draft have yet to sign. Both are advised by Scott Boras, no favorite of the 28 clubs. The players are Georgia Tech catcher Jason Varitek, picked 14th by the Seattle Mariners, and Mississippi State pitcher Carlton Loewer, chosen 23rd by the Philadelphia Phillies, who have reportedly withdrawn their $570,000 final offer. Varitek, who returned to school for his senior year after having been drafted in the first round a year ago by the Minnesota Twins, is without substantive options. The Mariners have reportedly offered $425,000.

--Control Specialist: A work stoppage may interrupt several record pursuits, but it may enable Bret Saberhagen of the New York Mets to claim one. Saberhagen had 12 victories and 12 walks through Thursday. The last pitcher to have more victories than walks in a season was Slim Sallee of the Cincinnati Reds in 1919. Sallee won 21 games and walked only 20 in 227 innings.

--Good News/Bad News: The Cleveland Indians’ offense had compiled 10 or more hits in 59 games through Thursday, helping produce a 41-18 record in those games, but the bullpen had lost six games in which the team led after eight innings, and nine in which it led after seven.