Marlins’ Stanton out 4-6 weeks
For the second year in a row, Giancarlo Stanton’s chances of winning the major league home run title have been hurt by an injury.
The Miami Marlins slugger has a broken left hand, which is expected to sideline him four to six weeks. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday and will meet with a hand specialist.
Stanton, who grimaced as he swung and missed for strike three Friday night in the ninth inning of the Marlins’ 7-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, said the injury became worse as the game progressed.
“We’re hoping that it will be the quickest course possible, but certainly not great news when you lose a guy that means what he’s meant to this ballclub and to baseball,” Marlins manager Dan Jennings said before Saturday’s game.
Stanton led the majors with 27 homers and 67 RBIs when sidelined. Last year he was in the thick of the home run race when a beaning ended his season on Sept. 11, and he finished tied for second in the majors with 37 homers.
“It’s very disappointing to see with the work he puts in,” reliever A.J. Ramos said. “You see the year he’s having so you’re definitely disappointed and you feel bad for him.”
The latest injury means Stanton will miss the All-Star Game, and it’s a big blow to a team that lost its fifth game in a row Friday to fall a season-worst 15 games below .500.
While Stanton took lusty cuts in the ninth, he said the injury occurred earlier in the game.
“On a swing, my bat dug into my hand a little bit and didn’t feel the greatest,” he said Friday after the loss. “It got worse and worse.”
Stanton’s hand appeared swollen, and he said it hurt where he grips the bat. He went 0 for 4 on the night, which included a broken bat.
He ground out in the first inning and struck out in the fourth, sixth and ninth innings. Stanton said he didn’t think the broken bat affected him.
“No, I don’t think it was that at-bat,” he said. “Probably the swings and misses.”
Stanton signed a record $325 million, 13-year contract last November.
Clearing the bases
Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum was hit in his pitching elbow by a line drive and left the game against Colorado. … Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer was ejected in the second inning for throwing at New York’s Alex Rodriguez. … Rain washed out a game between the Phillies and Nationals after 1 1/2 innings. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today. … Indians and Orioles game was postponed because of rain will be made up today as part of a doubleheader. This is the Indians’ lone scheduled visit to Camden Yards. … The Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox also had their game postponed. No immediate makeup date was announced. … The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds had their game suspended after six innings with the score tied at 1. The game will resume today with the top of the seventh inning before the teams play their previously scheduled series finale.