Molina hurt in plate collision
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was taken off the field on a stretcher with a brace around his neck after getting run over on a tag play in the ninth inning Sunday in St. Louis.
Molina got spun around on a one-hop throw from first baseman Chris Duncan, who had been playing in when he fielded Phillies star Jimmy Rollins’ bad-hop grounder. As he was turning to make the tag, Molina was drilled by pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett and he was face down in the dirt for several minutes while being attended to by medical personnel.
Molina showed plate umpire Tim McClelland he still had the ball, holding it in his right hand, before collapsing in front of the plate. He did not appear to be moving as the cart left the field.
Wang exits with sprain
Chien-Ming Wang left the Yankees’ clubhouse on crutches Sunday after spraining his right foot running the bases in New York’s 13-0 win over the Astros at Houston.
After pitching five scoreless innings, Wang (8-2) pulled up as he rounded third on Derek Jeter’s two-run single during the Yankees’ eight-run sixth. He hopped the rest of the way home and pointed to his right foot after scoring. Getting a rare chance to hit against an N.L. team, Wang had reached base on a bunt that turned into a fielder’s choice.
Blalock set for rehab
Texas Rangers infielder Hank Blalock will start a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma today as he returns from carpal tunnel syndrome surgery on his right wrist.
Blalock had surgery on May 30 after a cortisone shot in the wrist did not help reduce the swelling. The former All-Star third baseman, who will shift to first base, was originally placed on the 15-day disabled list April 29 with a torn left hamstring.
Blalock was batting .299 with three homers and seven RBIs in 87 at-bats.
Konerko may see DL
Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko could be headed to the disabled list after straining a muscle near his rib cage before the White Sox’s game against Colorado.
Konerko, batting .215 with eight homers and 30 RBIs, hurt himself during batting practice and did not seem optimistic about a quick return.