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Associated Press 8y

Gonzalez will give gift to girl he hit falling into stands

MLB, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers

DENVER -- Carlos Gonzalez has found the perfect "I'm sorry" present for the little girl he accidentally hit in the head when the Colorado Rockies right fielder crashed into the stands.

And no, he maintained, it's not a pony. Although, Gonzalez would pretty much buy her anything she wanted.

"I do have a little surprise for her and she's going to love it," Gonzalez said Monday before the Rockies opened a four-game series with Pittsburgh.

He wouldn't give a hint at his gift, but did say he would present it to her either at Coors Field or travel to her home. He wants to make Sunday's mishap right.

Here's how the incident unfolded: Gonzalez was racing toward a foul ball in the ninth inning of a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers when he hit the wall at full force and tumbled into the stands. Replays seemed to show that he caught the 7-year-old with one of his cleats, although Gonzalez isn't quite sure.

Gonzalez was shaken up on the play -- way more for the little girl, who he could hear screaming.

She was escorted out of the stands with a cut that required stitches. And while Gonzalez was assured by Colorado's trainers that she was fine, he thought about her all night.

"I have daughters. I know how difficult it is to see your little princess bleed," the 30-year-old Gonzalez said. "The Rockies did a tremendous job -- took care of the family, gave me an update. I just wanted to know how everything was.

"So far, so good. That's a good sign. I'm still really hurt and sorry that it happened. But it was nothing that I can control. It's never good to see a fan leave the stadium with an injury."

To add insult to injury, Gonzalez originally appeared to catch the ball while tumbling into the stands, only to have the grab overturned after a review. The Rockies ended up blowing a three-run lead in the ninth and lost 12-10.

A day later, Gonzalez said he was still a little sore but was in the starting lineup.

"Another pain. But it's part of the grind. It's part of baseball," Gonzalez said. "We play every day, so your body is going to feel sore every day. You get used to it."

His teammates came up with an intriguing suggestion for a gift -- "Toys `R' Us."

As in, every toy they stock inside the store.

"I thought about it," said Gonzalez, who's hitting .342 this season with 4 homers and 12 RBI. "I just couldn't stop thinking about her."

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