The Obit For Carlos Gilliard

Alfonso Soriano's father dies of brain hemorrhage

.c The Associated Press

05/14/03 23:43 EDT

NEW YORK (AP) - Alfonso Soriano's father died of a brain hemorrhage Wednesday in the Dominican Republic, the New York Yankees second baseman said.

Carlos Gilliard was 78 years old.

``When you lose somebody close, it's very hard to play. But I think I'm OK,'' Soriano said after going 0-for-4 in a 5-3 loss to Anaheim. ``I don't like to think about the problems outside the game when I play.''

Soriano said his father died at about 3 a.m. Soriano does not expect to miss any games.

``Well, we weren't really, really close,'' Soriano said. ``But I saw him whenever I went home to the Dominican. But I really grew up with my mother and my grandfather Soriano.''