BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : McGwire Leaves Game With Back Injury

Mark McGwire had to leave the game between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners after suffering a lower back injury in the sixth inning.

McGwire, activated Wednesday after spending 15 days on the disabled list because of a bruised left foot, apparently hurt his back when he came to a sudden stop and started running again. He was halfway between first and second base when Seattle left fielder Luis Sojo dropped Geronimo Berroa’s fly ball for an error.

After Seattle pitcher Chris Bosio issued another walk to load the bases, McGwire walked gingerly to third and was lifted from the game.

The A’s said they had to await an examination by team doctors to determine the nature of the back injury.

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The Baltimore Orioles put third baseman Leo Gomez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 31, and recalled right-handed reliever Armando Benitez from triple-A Rochester.

Gomez injured his left ankle Sunday.

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St. Louis second baseman Geronimo Pena, on the disabled list for the third time this season and the ninth time in his five-year career, had season-ending surgery on his left knee. . . . Mayor Tom Murphy, citing baseball’s unsettled economic climate, said the Pittsburgh Pirates may not be sold until the off-season. He also speculated that Kevin McClatchy, the California newspaper heir who met with Pirates’ owners and executives for the third time this week, also may be delaying a bid because of baseball’s confusing economic conditions.