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Boston Red Sox slugger JD Martinez isn’t used to playing defense. He is, after all, usually a designated hitter. Maybe that’s why he had some issues tripping over a base as he made his way to the outfield on Sunday.
Martinez’s status was unclear for Tuesday’s wildcard game against the visiting New York Yankees after spraining his left ankle and being pulled out of a 7-5 win over the Washington Nationals in Boston’s regular season finale.
Because the National League does not use DH in games played in its stadiums – a rule that could change as early as next season – Martinez was playing right field against Washington.
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And it was on what should have been a routine hike there, glove in hand for the bottom of the fifth inning, that Martinez, well, stepped in, so to speak.
“He stepped on the bag and twisted his ankle,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He made it this round defensively.”
It was only the seventh game in 2021 that Martinez started in right field. He was in the starting lineup as a DH for 113 games and as a left fielder for 28.
Martinez was replaced by pinch hitter José Iglesias early in the sixth, and in a series of defensive changes to accommodate that move, Hunter Renfroe moved from center field to right late in the inning.
“The guys stepped up. That’s what we’re doing,” Cora said. “Someone is falling, someone has to come in and do the job.”
Martinez is a key part of Boston’s roster. He started Sunday with an average of .286, 42 doubles, 28 homers and 99 RBIs.
As to whether Martinez will be ready to play Tuesday night against rival Yankees at Fenway Park, Cora said on Sunday: “I don’t know. We’ll find out later tomorrow.”
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