Tigers catcher Alex Avila suffered a left knee patellar tendon strain in the second inning of Game 5 of the ALCS during a collision with Red Sox catcher David Ross at home plate, forcing him to leave the game.
Alex Avila suffers left knee strain in home plate collision
Tigers catcher Alex Avila left Game 5 of the ALCS with a left knee patellar tendon strain after a run-saving collision at home plate.
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
The team says Avila is day-to-day.
With one out in the second inning, Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez was in a difficult position. The Red Sox had already scored three runs in the frame and with David Ross at third, they were threatening to score again. Sanchez was able to Shane Victorino to hit a ground ball to Omar Infante and the Tigers second baseman went home with the ball to get Ross. Ross collided hard with Avila as the Tigers' backstop turned and took up a position in front of the plate.
Avila remained in the game during the third inning but was replaced by Brayan Pena when his turn in the lineup came around in the fourth. Pena remained in the game as the Tigers' catcher after grounding into a double play to end the fourth.
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