One day after soreness in his left hip caused him to remove himself from the Philadelphia Phillies' 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning, center fielder Shane Victorino was out of the lineup for the first of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.

But the St. Anthony alum from Maui downplayed any concern about the injury, which he said occurred while rounding first base on a double in the first inning.

"That's why I did what I did," said Victorino, who entered last night hitting .300 with 38 runs, 27 RBIs and nine stolen bases. "I don't want it to be a long-term thing."

Victorino ran sprints and performed some agility tests, but said there were still "certain movements" that bothered the injury. He took batting practice and was hoping to be available to pinch-hit.

"It feels a lot better today," Victorino said.

ROCKIES

KIDNAPPERS RELEASE TORREALBA'S SON

Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba's 11-year-old son and brother-in-law were released by kidnappers a day after being abducted in Caracas, Venezuela.

The two were abducted Tuesday while driving to the boy's school along with a relative of the boy's mother, Venezuelan authorities said yesterday.

The kidnappers demanded $466,000 in ransom, but none was paid, said Wilmer Flores Trossel, head of Venezuela's federal police.

Flores Trossel didn't give details but said the abductors left the three along a highway outside Caracas on Wednesday night. No arrests have been made.

YANKEES

BURNETT APPEALS HIS 6-GAME SUSPENSION

New York Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett was suspended six games yesterday for throwing high-and-tight to Texas' Nelson Cruz earlier this week.

Burnett appealed the penalty, which had been set to take effect immediately. He can continue to pitch until a hearing is held.

"You kind of expect something to happen when the ball comes that close," Burnett said yesterday.