Boston’s ex-Hog injured
Former Arkansas Razorback Andrew Benintendi, the rookie left fielder for the Boston Red Sox, left Wednesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., with a left knee sprain.
In the seventh inning, Benintendi, 22, had ventured too far off second base when Dustin Pedroia hit a chopper up the middle with Tampa Bay’s infield drawn in. Rays shortstop Matt Duffy fielded the ball and turned to slap a tag on the retreating Benintendi.
Immediately after the tag, Benintendi appeared to catch his foot in the dirt and roll his ankle. His knee appeared to bend in an awkwa rd fashion as well as he crumpled into the dirt. He was on second base after he had slapped a double into the left-field corner.
Benintendi stayed on the ground until Red Sox Manager John Farrell and trainer Brad Pearson arrived to look at the player, who was on his knees near second base. He eventually was helped off the field, putting his weight on both Farrell and Pearson.
“It’s stiff. I can put a little bit of weight [on it], not trying to push it or overdo it,” Benintendi said. “Come back tomorrow and see how it feels. It was bad baserunning. It shouldn’t happen.”
Benintendi, who was called up Aug. 2, has hit .324 with an .850 OPS, a .365 onbase percentage and a .485 slugging percentage in his first 21 games with the Red Sox. He hit his first career home run Sunday and has driven in 10 runs. He also has struck out 17 times in 68 at-bats.