Pitcher Joe Niekro will miss his scheduled...

Pitcher Joe Niekro will miss his scheduled start tonight for the Minnesota Twins against the Chicago White Sox because of a shoulder injury incurred in an on-field fight, the Twins said.

Niekro, 2-0 with a 2.92 earned-run average since the New York Yankees traded him to Minnesota earlier this month, hurt his right shoulder Wednesday in a bench-clearing brawl with Milwaukee.

The 6-foot 1-inch, 195-pound right-hander had tried to restrain Milwaukee’s 6-3, 210-pound outfielder, Rob Deer, but was thrown to the ground in the melee.