MILWAUKEE -- Lorenzo Cain hit his second home run in three games in the fourth inning of Thursday’s 5-1 win over the Padres at Miller Park, but he didn’t make it back out to center field for the fifth. He departed with left ankle discomfort, the Brewers said.

Cain said it felt like an Achilles issue at first, but closer examination by the team’s athletic trainer pinpointed pain on the side of his ankle instead. He expects to undergo further testing.

“He went for a ground ball in the first inning, and as he planted, he felt some discomfort on the back of his ankle,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It didn’t get any worse as the game went, but he just couldn’t get going. So it’s a precaution. He’ll be day to day.”

It’s been an injury-riddled season for Cain, who has dealt with a painful right thumb injury that required cryotherapy, a left knee injury that sidelined him in early September and a host of other nagging matters that have contributed to a subpar season for a player who finished seventh in National League MVP Award balloting a year ago.

With expanded rosters, Milwaukee has players to cover Cain’s absence. Rookie Trent Grisham took Cain’s spot in center field to start the fifth inning and wound up accounting for two big insurance runs via a Little League homer. Grisham hit an RBI double, took third on the throw home and scored when San Diego catcher Austin Hedges’ throw to third base sailed into the outfield.

Ryan Braun is expected to start again Friday against Pirates lefty Steven Brault, so either Grisham, Ben Gamel or Tyrone Taylor would start in center field if Cain can’t play.

“It’s bothering me right now to run, but we’ll get some more tests done and hopefully I’ll be back out there,” Cain said. “It’s been a rough year as far as the injuries and whatnot. Who knows? I have to find a way to get the ankle right so I can get back out there on the field. I’m not sure what’s going to happen [Friday against the Pirates], but me, I plan on being back out there on the field.”