All it took were two games for Willis Otanez to catch the injury bug that has swept through the Orioles' clubhouse. Outfielder Danny Clyburn can only hope he's more immune.

Good luck.

Clyburn was recalled from Triple-A Rochester yesterday when Otanez went on the disabled list with a fractured left wrist. Otanez, who is lost for the remainder of the season, suffered the injury Thursday night while diving for a first-inning fly ball from Chicago's Albert Belle. It was his second major-league appearance, and it ended the club's outfield experiment.

Otanez had played mostly third base at Rochester until moving to right field two days before being brought up Saturday when pitcher Scott Kamieniecki went on the disabled list. Clyburn, on the other hand, is accustomed to playing the outfield, though he's regarded as below average defensively.

Manager Ray Miller won't let reputations determine who's out there. Eric Davis is vulnerable to runners taking an extra base because of soreness in both hamstrings and a tender right elbow. Brady Anderson isn't near full speed because of a slightly torn tendon in his right knee. Clyburn, 24, provides a healthy body and another right-handed-hitting option besides Davis.

"He's a massively strong man. It's impressive to watch him take BP," Miller said.

As for Clyburn's defensive shortcomings, Miller said he received a positive report from Red Wings manager Marv Foley. "Foley's exact words were, 'He's improved quite a lot. He's still going to have his days, but he's improved quite a lot, and he works very hard at it.'

"These big, strong outfielders, their defensive ability is kind of noticeable when they're not hitting. If they're pounding the ball, then you hear, 'That guy's a good player.' You don't hear too much about [Jose] Canseco playing the outfield with 30-some home runs."

Clyburn got a late start on the season after fracturing his left foot in spring training. He was hitting .286 with 14 homers and 54 RBIs in 84 games at Rochester.

Last year, Clyburn earned a promotion to Baltimore on Sept. 15 after hitting .300 and leading the Red Wings with 33 doubles, 20 homers and 76 RBIs.

His major-league debut came that night as a pinch-hitter. He appeared in two games for the Orioles, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

"He struggled a little when he was here last year," Miller said, "but that was just because of a better grade of pitching, being able to work him a little bit better."

Otanez sat in front of his locker before last night's loss wearing a cast on the hand, which was in a sling. He was waiting to be examined again by team orthopedist Dr. Michael Jacobs.

"Can you believe that? I can't believe that," he said, looking at the cast. "You never know what's going to happen."

Miller draped an arm around Otanez and provided comfort. "I told him not to worry and said, 'You've earned your shot here and you'll be here next year. You've shown me that you can be a good major-league player, so relax and travel with the club. Sit back and help me manage or something.' "

Anderson returns to lineup

Anderson returned to the lineup last night after being held out of Thursday's loss in Chicago. In both instances, Miller was playing the percentages rather than using the injury report as a guide. He sat Anderson against White Sox left-hander Jim Parque and started him against Kansas City right-hander Pat Rapp.

Anderson received more treatment yesterday. Miller was prepared to insert Rich Becker in center field if Anderson had said he wasn't available. Anderson went 0-for-3 with a walk.

All the injuries and lineup juggling reminded Miller of the season's first half. But the difference comes Tuesday when rosters can be expanded.

"We'll have some bodies to take a little stress off," Miller said.

Miller caught off guard

Miller said he was "shocked" to read yesterday about catcher Chris Hoiles' chronic hip and lower back pain, perhaps associated with a disk condition, that occasionally causes him numbness in his left leg.

Hoiles was quoted in The Sun as saying the condition hasn't improved despite daily treatments, and he would change positions "in a heartbeat" if it would assure him more at-bats.

"I knew he's been having problems, but I didn't know it was public. Apparently it is now," Miller said, adding that Hoiles would be in the lineup tonight.

"I was going to catch him [yesterday] until I read the paper. I've known about that, but I was trying to keep it relatively quiet because you don't like to tell the opposition that you have any problems. But it's out there."

The Royals ran wild on the Orioles during their series in Kansas City four weeks ago. They stole eight bases with Hoiles catching in an Aug. 1 game, including four by Jose Offerman.

Hoiles has expressed an interest in playing first base, but Miller said he's "not particularly in any hurry to rest" Rafael Palmeiro, who hit his 40th homer Thursday and 41st last night.

Among Tuesday's minor-league call-ups will be Charlie Greene from Rochester. A strong defensive presence who's never hit much, Greene will allow Miller to start both Hoiles and Lenny Webster without the bench being minus a catcher.

Royals hurting, too

If the Orioles are looking for sympathy from Kansas City regarding their injuries, they won't find it. The Royals have eight players on the disabled list, five more than the Orioles, who will pare their number when Doug Drabek starts Tuesday against Chicago.

Yesterday, the Royals placed right-hander Bart Evans on the DL with a sprained right ankle and optioned right-hander Jose Santiago to Triple-A Omaha. They also activated right-hander Brian Bevil from his rehab assignment and purchased the contract of left-hander Allen McDill from Omaha.

To make room for McDill on the 40-man roster, the Royals transferred outfielder Shane Mack to the 60-day DL. Mack will have surgery to repair a herniated disk.

Close call

Coming out after being hit by B. J. Surhoff's liner in the seventh inning, Rapp said he was OK after the game -- barely.

"The ball got me on the inside of my knee; an inch either way and it's got nothing but bone," said the Royals starter, who has won his last two starts after going winless in his previous five. "It didn't hurt me too bad. But I just knew at the time I'd had enough. I knew it was hurt too bad to throw."

Around the horn

Mike Bordick's nine homers eclipsed his previous career high of eight, set in 1995 with Oakland. Johnny Damon, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, is hitting .389 against the Orioles this year.

Feeling 40

Rafael Palmeiro, who hit his 41st last night, on Thursday night joined a short list of Orioles who have hit 40 or more home runs in a season:

HRs Player Year

50 Brady Anderson 1996

49 Frank Robinson 1966

46 Jim Gentile 1961

41 Palmeiro 1998

Pub Date: 8/29/98