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PHOENIX -- Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Richie Sexson probably is headed for the 15-day disabled list after injuring his left shoulder on a check-swing Wednesday night, manager Bob Brenly said.

Sexson, who played every inning of every game for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, fell to one knee and grabbed his shoulder in obvious pain after the pitch from LaTroy Hawkins of the Chicago Cubs with one out in the eighth inning.

Team doctor Michael Lee initially diagnosed the injury as a strained shoulder but an MRI was scheduled Thursday to decide if there was further damage. The Diamondbacks will await results of that exam before making a decision on the disabled list.

X-rays were negative, Lee said, and the shoulder was back in place when Sexson was examined. He said it was preferable that the power of Sexson's own muscles caused the injury, rather than a fall or a collision, as was the case with shoulder injuries to Danny Bautista and Luis Gonzalez the past two seasons.

"The forces were less here, so the chance of severe damage is much lower as a result of that," Lee said. "But that doesn't mean that there isn't anything in there that is more severely damaged and may sit him out for a period of time."

Sexson was a big component of a nine-player trade with the Brewers in the offseason. Arizona sent six players to Milwaukee as part of the deal.

Sexson entered Wednesday's game tied with Barry Bonds for the National League lead in home runs with nine, including a 503-footer Monday night against the Cubs, the longest home run in Bank One Ballpark's seven-year history.

His 22 RBIs were tied with Richard Hidalgo of Houston for second in the NL, five behind Scott Rolen's 27 going into Wednesday's play.

Initially, Brenly told reporters that Sexson was going on the DL, but after a brief meeting with Lee, the manager amended that to say he probably would go there.

Asked what losing Sexson would mean to the Diamondbacks, Brenly said, "What would losing Barry Bonds do to the Giants? What would losing Albert Pujols do to the Cardinals?

"He's our RBI power hitter, cleanup hitter, middle of the lineup, stellar defense at first base. It's going to hurt to lose him but we've got to find a way to move on."

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press