Boston Red Sox leadoff hitter Roman Anthony got pulled from Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Tuesday during the sixth inning. Talk about a gut punch when you’re already fighting for your season. Andruw Monasterio pinch-hit for Anthony with one out in that inning against Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler. This isn’t just a tough break for the Red Sox, it’s a massive question mark hanging over their whole Wild Card run.
That Pesky Hand Is Back to Haunt Anthony and the Sox
We all know Anthony missed a whopping 101 games from May 5 through August 29 because of a torn ligament under his right ring finger. Well, that same hand was clearly bothering him again on Tuesday. Manager Chad Tracy didn’t pull any punches after Boston’s brutal 9-0 loss, saying, “He took a check swing and then another swing and his hand flared on him. And it got uncomfortable, so we had to make a move there.” When reporters tried to get an update postgame, Red Sox officials said Anthony, who was the designated hitter, had already left Yankee Stadium. Tracy also mentioned that Anthony has felt “a zinger” in the hand “every once in a while” since he came back from the injured list on August 30. But Tuesday was different. “Today some stuff happened that was more serious and was uncomfortable,” Tracy said, painting a pretty grim picture.
0-for-2 And A Huge Unknown For Game 2
Before he exited, Anthony was struggling, going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Schlittler. He struck out swinging on a curveball to start the game and then struck out again to end the third inning on a 99 mph four-seam fastball. Boston was already down 2-0 when he left the game, and Monasterio, his replacement, struck out in his pinch-hit at-bat. Since his return from the injured list on August 30, Anthony had been decent in 25 games to close out the regular season, batting .262 with a .321 on-base percentage and a .797 OPS. He had four homers, six doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs, and 12 runs in 112 plate appearances, but also struck out 33 times for a 29.5% strikeout percentage. Overall this season, in 55 games, he batted .245 with a .339 OBP and a .735 OPS over 242 plate appearances.
The big question now? What happens next. Tracy was clear that Anthony was “in a lot of discomfort.” It’s totally up in the air whether Anthony will play in Game 2 on Wednesday. “We’ll have to see what tomorrow brings,” Tracy said. After getting absolutely smacked 9-0 in Game 1, the Red Sox are already on the ropes. Losing their leadoff hitter and DH is exactly what they *don’t* need, and now it’s a waiting game to see if Anthony can even suit up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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