BOSTON -- A left pinky subluxation (partial dislocation), followed by a heavily delayed flight from Denver that got the Red Sox home in the wee hours of the morning, seemed like a recipe for Caleb Durbin getting Thursday night off to start a four-game series against the Yankees at Fenway Park.
But that isn’t really in Durbin’s DNA. The third baseman begrudgingly left Wednesday’s 8-6 loss in the third inning after his ill-fated decision to slide into first base.
“I’m proud of that kid, man. I think he was sitting in the postgame [clubhouse] and said he was more disappointed that they couldn't get it back in right away, and [he could] go back in the field,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “But they were able to get it back in, and all things considered, it was a little sore and he said he was ready to go. So we dodged a bullet there. And you worry about when that happens -- is there a break in there?”
In fact, the trainers didn’t even have to pop the finger back into place.
Durbin said it happened naturally after he took his glove off.
“I assume so, because I looked at it originally and it wasn't straight, and then when I went to do the X-rays after the glove came off, it was straight,” said Durbin. “I didn't want to look at it, but when I took the glove off, it straightened up.”
This was all fortunate news for the Red Sox, because Durbin has gone from one of the team’s coldest hitters for two months to one of the hottest over the last few weeks.
In his last 23 games and 87 plate appearances, Durbin has a batting line of .317/.333/.585 with eight doubles, four homers and 14 RBIs.
It is in stark contrast to his first 48 games of the season, when, over 164 plate appearances, he slashed .163/.241/.238 with one homer (off a position player) and 16 RBIs.
Durbin looked forward to doing whatever it took to suit up against the Yankees and ace Cam Schlittler on Thursday.
“I'll talk to the trainers. I haven't talked to them yet. In my head, I was thinking, just tape it to my other finger when I hit,” said Durbin. “And I do two fingers in the pinky when I field anyways. I've dry swung already, so I have a general idea of it with adrenaline, too, and getting it warmed up with the training staff, I don't see it being really an issue at all.”