In the fifth inning of Game 5 of the ALCS between the Rangers and the Yankees, Rangers left fielder Nelson Cruz was pulled from the game and replaced by David Murphy. There was no immediate word on the nature of the issue, but soon thereafter it came out that Cruz was bothered by tightness in his left hamstring, and Ron Washington thought it best not to push his luck.
Nelson Cruz Leaves ALCS Game 5 With Hamstring Injury
Cruz had hit a double in the top of the fourth, and it’s possible that he injured himself running that out. However, he did come out to play defense in the bottom half, so either the pain isn’t that bad, or he injured himself playing the field.
This is significant for Cruz and the Rangers, because Cruz’s left hamstring has bothered him off and on all season long. He made two separate trips to the disabled list due to left hamstring concerns, limiting him to 108 games. And over those 108 games, he batted .318 with 22 home runs and a .950 OPS. Cruz is the Rangers’ best right-handed hitter when he’s healthy, but he’s struggled to stay healthy, and this could loom huge in the ALCS.
Stay tuned for updates as we come to know more. Cruz is currently considered day-to-day, but for all we know he may end up missing the rest of the series. Also check out more at Lone Star Ball.
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