Mariners’ Jean Segura, Nelson Cruz leave finale vs Rockies with injuries
Jun 1, 2017, 2:32 PM | Updated: 5:12 pm
A right ankle injury forced Jean Segura from the Mariners' game Thursday vs. Colorado. (AP)
(AP)
The Mariners were riding high on Thursday, owners of a four-game win streak and coming off a dazzling return from the disabled list the night before by James Paxton. But in the span of two innings, two of their biggest offensive producers were forced from action with injuries that have the potential to deliver a massive blow to their postseason hopes.
Leadoff man Jean Segura exited Seattle’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies at the end of the fourth inning after suffering a right ankle injury sliding into second base, and designated hitter Nelson Cruz came out in the fifth inning, two frames after he took a pitch off his left hand.
Manager Scott Servais said after the game, a 6-3 Mariners loss, that the team will know more on the status of each player Friday after they undergo tests, though he is trying to maintain hope that they will have to miss just a few days.
“Don’t really know what we got yet,” Servais said. “Hopeful that the guys are not out for an extended period of time. We certainly need them, but injuries happen. We’ve dealt with it all year, and we’ll deal with this if we lose the guys, but I’m hopeful it is only going to be a day-to-day thing with both those guys.”
Segura twisted his ankle, according to Servais, when he was thrown out trying to advance from first base on a sacrifice fly to left field by Danny Valencia that scored Ben Gamel from third. The Rockies cut off the throw to home and fired it to second to get Segura, who slid feet first into the bag. He remained seated on the base for several moments after the play and was eventually helped off the field by two people, favoring his right leg on the way to the dugout.
If the injury is significant, the 27-year-old shortstop could be headed to the disabled list for the second time already this season. He previously missed 12 games with a hamstring strain from April 11 through April 13.
When Segura has been healthy, he’s been among not just Seattle’s best offensive players, but in the entire MLB. He entered Thursday with a .344 average that led the majors, and he also has four home runs, 20 RBIs, 29 runs scored and seven stolen bases. Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a blockbuster trade last November, Segura led the National League in hits in 2016.
Cruz stayed in the game to run the bases after taking a Kyle Freeland pitch off his hand, and even appeared on the dugout steps with a bat and helmet with the Mariners threatening with runners on base in the fourth inning when he was two spots away from hitting. The rally ended without him hitting that frame, however, and Boog Powell pinch hit for him in the fifth with Seattle trailing 6-2.
“We’re hopeful that it’s not a broken bone or anything,” Servais said of Cruz’s injury.
Cruz, who is the American League leader in RBIs with 42 and tied for ninth in homers with 12, dealt with a wrist injury late last season. He has also missed a few games this season with various ailments, including a sore hamstring last week.
Injuries have been a major problem for the Mariners in 2017. No. 3 hitter Robinson Cano returned just last week from a DL stint for a quad strain, while Mitch Haniger, Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and Drew Smyly are just some of the names still working their way back from injuries of their own.
