Bogaerts not expected to miss time after exiting game with hamstring cramp

NEW YORK -- Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts appears to be fine after exiting Wednesday’s 4-2 loss against the Mets with a right hamstring cramp.

Bogaerts was hit by a pitch in the backside from Robert Stock in the second inning, but remained in the game. After a swing in the top of the seventh inning, he grimaced and reached for his right leg in apparent discomfort. Half an inning later, he was out of the game, with Sung-Mun Song moving from third to shortstop as his replacement.

“He’s fine,” said manager Craig Stammen. “He just had a cramp. We’re just being precautious with it. Hot day like today, humid, long travel -- we just felt like it was the right time to get him out of the game.”

It’s been a rough month for Bogaerts, who fouled a ball off his left foot during a game in Arizona earlier this month. He left that game early, too, though X-rays came back negative and he returned to the lineup the following day.

For much of the season, Bogaerts has struggled. He’s hitting just .220 with a .649 OPS. But he’s been better in August, working walks at a significantly higher clip and posting a .787 OPS in 64 plate appearances. On Wednesday, Bogaerts doubled and was hit by a pitch. He indicated the hit by pitch and the cramping might have been related, but wasn’t sure.

The Padres have an off-day on Thursday, before they begin a three-game series against the Twins on Friday night at Petco Park, with Bogaerts expected to be fully available.