Rockies manager Weiss taken to hospital

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss had an appendectomy Wednesday night following two days of stomach discomfort.

A club spokesman said Wednesday that the 51-year-old Weiss left Angel Stadium right before batting practice with athletic trainer Keith Dugger to get a follow-up exam. He is expected to be hospitalized until Thursday afternoon, but no timetable has been established on when he will rejoin the club. Bench coach Tom Runnells will guide the team in Weiss' absence.

The Rockies begin a four-game series up the freeway at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night.

This is Weiss' third season with the Rockies, who lost their 11th straight on Wednesday night, 2-1 to the Angels.

Weiss was the 1988 AL rookie of the year with the Oakland Athletics, and spent four of his 14 big league seasons playing shortstop for the Rockies, who were managed then by current Angels hitting coach Don Baylor.

Another Angels coach with a connection to Weiss is Alfredo Griffin, who was traded by the A's in September 1987 because they felt that Weiss could handle the shortstop job on a regular basis.