On Thursday night in Oakland, A huge offensive display for Gary Sanchez the New York Yankees budding star ended with worry.
On the night, Sanchez reached base safely each of the five times he came to bat. He was 3-for-3 and walked twice. His hits included a pair of singles and a double Sanchez also stole a base and knocked in a pair of runs.
However, during the ninth inning on his stolen base, Sanchez said he felt tightness in an abductor muscle near the groin. After one batter following his stolen base, Sanchez called Jos Espada the third base coach for the Yankees out to second base. He then took himself out of the games as a precaution.
Following the game, Manager Joe Girardi of the Yankees said Sanchez would be listed as day to day.
Sanchez through his translator said he did not think it was anything to be concerned about, while saying he did not think an MRI would be needed. The Yankees catcher said he would wait until Friday morning and see how he feels and go from there.
Sanchez has had two straight strong days at the plate. On Wednesday in Anaheim, Sanchez had 3 hits in 5 at bats including a home run, which was his 11th.
Over his last seven games played, Sanchez is 14 for 28 with 3 doubles, 5 home runs and 17 runs knocked in. he also drew five walks and struck out five times. That helped to raise both his batting average and on-base percentage close to 50 points apiece.
Sanchez told reporters that he felt very good at the plate and has tried to always put a good swing on the ball and things were working out at this point.
Girardi agreed that he hoped the muscle tightness near Sanchez’s groin was nothing serious. Girardi added that Sanchez was swinging extremely well and had become a very dangerous hitter at the plate and that means it is not a good time that he misses at bats so hopefully the tightness is nothing serious.
The Yankees currently lead the American League East by 2 games over the second place Boston Red Sox.
