More bad news for Mariners: slugger Nelson Cruz twists right ankle
Mar 31, 2018, 5:16 PM
Mariners DH Nelson Cruz hit a home run then twisted his ankle on Saturday. (AP)
(AP)
Following a spring training that saw nearly every key Mariners player deal with some sort of injury – and coming a day after they had to place starting catcher Mike Zunino on the disabled list – manager Scott Servais wasn’t prepared for any more bad news.
Ichiro finds ‘old-time religion’ with HR-robbing catch
So when All-Star designated hitter Nelson Cruz twisted his ankle on the steps behind the team’s dugout just moments after hitting his second home run of the season in the sixth inning, Servais didn’t feel very good.
“When I heard that I about wanted to throw up,” Servais said after the Mariners’ 6-5 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. “Freak accident. Kinda unbelievable at times some of the things we’ve gone through here, but trying to stay positive and hopefully everything’s OK.”
In the clubhouse after the game, Cruz talked to reporters with his right ankle – the one the right-handed slugger uses to push off of with his swing – in a walking boot.
“It feels better. It was worse when it happened – at least I can walk now,” he said.
Cruz said an MRI was scheduled for Sunday to get a better idea of how severe the sprain is.
The impact of Cruz’s bat not being available was felt by the Mariners in the eighth inning. With Seattle trailing by just one run and Robinson Cano on second base following a leadoff double, Guillermo Heredia had to pinch-hit for Cruz. Heredia struck out and Indians All-Star reliever Andrew Miller was able to get Cleveland out of the inning unscathed, then handed the ball off to closer Cody Allen to seal the win for the Indians in the ninth.
“The last at-bat, you know, it was like ‘That should be my chance. That should be my at-bat,’” Cruz said.
“It is what it is. I’ll be fine.”
