Angels starter Pena carried off the field after spraining knee
CLEVEL A ND» Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Felix Pena was carried off the field after spraining his right knee in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday.
Pena was hurt as he stepped on first base to record an out on a ground ball hit by Jose Ramirez. First baseman Albert Pujols fielded the ball and made a high underhand toss to Pena, who was covering the bag.
Pena reached for the ball and his left foot landed on the base. He hopped around on his left foot before going to the ground in pain holding his right leg.
The pitcher was eventually carried to the dugout by Pujols and a trainer. The team said he will undergo an MRI.
Pena retired the first five hitters and was replaced by Trevor Cahill.
Ailing Yankees. A season of injuries continues for the Yankees, who placed Edwin Encarnación on the injured list with a broken right wrist after he was hit on the wrist with a pitch during the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Boston.
There has been no indication yet of how long he’ll be out, or whether he’ll play again this season. Encarnación was acquired from Seattle on June 15 and the 36year-old has batted .238 with nine homers and 27 RBIS over 36 games with the Yankees.
He is the 15th Yankees player currently on the disabled list, joining catcher Gary Sanchez, outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, first baseman Luke Voit and pitchers Luis Severino, Dellin Betances and CC Sabathia.
Hurting hammy. The Cubs are waiting to see if they’ll be without All-star catcher Willson Contreras for an extended amount of time. He hurt his right hamstring while running out a flyball during a win over Milwaukee on Saturday. Manager Joe Maddon said the catcher will have an MRI on Monday.
Contreras is batting .275 with 19 homers and 57 RBIS this season.
Kluber comeback. Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber took another step in his comeback from a broken right forearm by throwing a simulated game on Saturday.
The Cleveland right-hander started playing catch about six weeks ago and has been throwing in the bullpen for a couple weeks. He threw 35 pitches to hitters from Akron, the Indians’ Double-a team, in a session at Progressive Field. He hit 88-89 mph and threw several breaking pitches.
Cleveland is chasing Minnesota for the top spot in the AL Central Division. Kluber went 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA before the injury, which happened on May 1 when he was struck by a line drive.