NATIONALS’ SOTO SPRAINS ANKLE
Juan Soto was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain after being pulled from the Nationals’ 7-4 victory over the Mets on Sunday.
The 20-year-old star came out of the game after turning his ankle running the bases in the seventh inning. Soto went firstto-third on Asdrubal Cabrera’s two-out, two-run double and was injured trying to slow down after third base coach Bob Henley threw up a late stop sign. The team said he is day to day after X-rays were negative.
The Mets tagged him out to end the inning, and Soto spiked his helmet, hobbled into the outfieldandthenwasvisitedbya trainer.
“I just went 100 percent running to the plate and Bobby tried to stop me,” Soto said. “When I tried to stop, my ankle just rolled over.”
Soto remained in shallow left field for a few minutes, attempted to warm up defensively for the next inning, but then returned to the dugout. He was replaced by Victor Robles. Soto broke the same ankle in 2017.
Robles later provided a pair of insurance runs in the ninth with a two-run homer.
“I told the trainers that I just came out to let him hit a homer,” Soto joked.
Soto was 0 for 2 with two walks. He has reached base in 17 straight games and hit two home runs Saturday. Soto is hitting .289 with 24 home runs and 77 RBIs and ranks among the NL leaders in both walks and onbase percentage.
Astros help fan celebrate 105th birthday
B URKE, TEX A S
An Astros fan in Texas marked her 105th birthday with a baseballthemed party including some gifts courtesy of her favorite team.
The Lufkin Daily News reports Uba Lee “Tuey” Davis celebrated Saturday at Burke United Methodist Church. Pastor Mike Waters helped arrange for the Astros to send Davis some birthday presents, including an Alex Bregman bobblehead and a baseball signed by Jose Altuve.
Davis was born Aug.10, 1914, in Burke, a town of about 730 people located 100 miles northeast of Houston and her beloved Astros.
Her great-niece and care provider, Sherry Tutt, says Davis loves dark chocolate, Dr Pepper, daily devotions and watching the Astros on television.
Hernandez two starts away from return.
SE A
TTLE» Mariners right-handed pitcher Felix Hernandez will make a start at Single-A Everett this week in his return from a strained right lat.
After that, he’ll need a start at Triple-A before he can make his return to the rotation, manager Scott Servais said. That probably means Hernandez won’t be available next Saturday in Toronto when the Mariners next need a fifth starter.