Cecil emotional after injury
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brett Cecil said he cried while walking to the clubhouse after being helped off the field.
The left-hander’s season is over because of a torn calf muscle suffered while tagging out Mike Napoli in an eighth-inning rundown in the Blue Jays’ 6-4, 14-inning loss to the Texas Rangers on Friday in Game 2 of an American League division series.
The Rangers lead the series, 2-0. Game 3 is at Texas on Sunday night.
“It’s not the way I perceived it ending,” Cecil said Saturday.
Napoli was caught after a pickoff move by Cecil, who went to get in position for the rundown. The pitcher said he took a throw from shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, then immediately felt a pop when he took a step toward the runner.
“I don’t know how I took an extra two steps, but I was able to get there and tag him,” Cecil said. “Then just the adrenaline took over for a second, and just the pain set in, and it was tough to get off the field.”
Cecil said he initially thought he only had a cramp, but then needed help to get off the field and to the clubhouse.
“When the MRI [test] came back, they said it was pretty torn up,” he said.
Cecil, who was 5-5 with five saves and 2.48 earned-run average in 63 regular-season games, said he would not need surgery.
Rangers’ Beltre doesn’t participate in workout
Adrian Beltre stayed home Saturday, resting his strained lower back and taking medications.
The Rangers still were unsure whether the veteran third baseman would be back in the lineup for Game 3 of the playoff series against the Blue Jays.
Beltre strained his back sliding into second base during Game 1 in Toronto and exited early, and sat out Game 2.
“He’s day to day, has made some improvement, continues to get better,” Manager Jeff Banister said. “We felt like the best thing for him to do is rest and get the treatments as needed.”
Beltre will be reevaluated before Sunday’s game.
Cubs closer Rondon is locked in bathroom
Chicago Cubs closer Hector Rondon got stuck in the bullpen bathroom for several minutes during Game 1 of a National League division series with the St. Louis Cardinals.
A Cardinals official said the latch froze during the latter innings of the Cardinals’ 4-0 victory Friday night.
Stadium personnel finally got the lock to function.