Girardi: Injury avoidable

Dustin Fowler’s major league debut was over before he even stepped into the batter’s box, and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi had harsh words for Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. Fowler, 22, ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee during the first inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night, slamming into the short sidewall near the corner trying to catch Jose Abreu’s one-out foul ball. Fowler had surgery at Rush University Medical Center and was released Friday. Girardi said the injury was avoidable. “There’s an electrical box,” Girardi said. “And to me, that’s a problem. And I’m not blaming the White Sox, but it’s something that needs to be inspected. It should have been padded or not put there or put lower because if the kid doesn’t hit the electrical box, he might still be hurt, but my guess is he doesn’t rupture his patellar tendon.” Fowler was on a full run and wasn’t able to catch up with the ball, which bounced in foul territory. Fowler tumbled into the first row of seats, then tried to stand up and crumpled to the ground. Girardi said more needs to be done in stadiums to prevent players from flipping over low walls. “I think it’s something baseball needs to address,” he said.