The Tampa Bay Rays got hit by rain and bit by the injury bug during Thursday’s series finale in New York.
Three Rays players — first baseman Jonathan Aranda, designated hitter Yandy Díaz and left fielder Chandler Simpson — left the ultimately-rain-delayed game with injuries.
Aranda’s looked the most serious.
It occurred in the top of the fifth inning, half an inning before the delay in the Bronx. With rain dressing the infield, Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton hit a soft ground ball to third base, where Junior Caminero scurried to make a play on the slow roller.
Caminero, who came into the day with 10 errors at third base this season, rushed the throw to first. It was off the mark, and Aranda extended to reel it in for the putout. But as the first-time All-Star reached to catch the ball, he intercepted a sprinting Stanton.
Aranda’s glove, and left wrist, collided with the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Stanton. He dropped the ball and then his mitt before clutching his wrist, hopping in pain and then crouching and falling to the ground. He was attended to by a trainer and Rays manager Kevin Cash.
The 27-year-old entered the afternoon slashing .315/.393/.478 with 12 home runs and 53 RBI. He added an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning, helping Tampa Bay chip away at a then-7-0 Yankees lead.
Following his injury, Aranda eventually left the field and was replaced by Brandon Lowe, who began the game at second base. José Caballero took Lowe’s spot at second.
Díaz sustained a right forearm contusion in the top of the fourth inning when he was struck by a pitch from Yankees righty Marcus Stroman.
Simpson left the game in the bottom of the third with a left hand injury. He had grounded out in the top half of the frame but didn’t remove himself from the contest until he was in left on the other side of the inning.
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