The Padres were dealt a potential blow on Thursday when third baseman Chase Headley left the team's game against the Nationals in the second inning with a strained right calf, according to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
MLB news: Chase Headley injures calf again, Mike Carp pitches for Red Sox
Baseball was equal parts unfortunate and awesome on Thursday.
Jason Miller
Headley re-aggravated the same injury that kept him out of spring training action for a month, added Lin. In hindsight, the 29-year-old switch hitter could have used those extra reps; he entered Thursday hitting .188/.253/.319 through 75 plate appearances spanning 19 games.
To make matters worse, outfielder Seth Smith also had to exit the game with a groin injury, though that resulted in a rare but always fun-to-watch situation. The Padres were temporarily left without a backup option because Tommy Medica apparently wasn't ready to go, so manager Bud Black had to insert the team's best pitcher, Andrew Cashner, in left field for a batter in the 11th inning. Fortunately for the Padres (but unfortunately for neutral fans just looking for a good time), Cashner didn't have to make a play on a ball, and he was subbed out for a then-ready Medica after the first out of the frame.
San Diego went on to win the game, 4-3, in 12 innings.
Carp pitches for Boston in blowout loss
Carp walked five batters in the inning but did not allow a hit and escaped having surrendered only one run. Must’ve been that knuckleball ...
Cespedes hurts hamstring
Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes tweaked his hamstring while running the bases on Thursday and will miss "a few days," writes MLB.com's Jane Lee.
Cespedes suffered the injury on a successful attempt to reach first base on an infield hit in the seventh inning. The A's led the Astros, 10-1, at the time. They won by the same score.
The 28-year-old slugger owned a .241/.322/.481 line in 90 plate appearances entering Thursday before going 1-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts.
Thursday scores
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