Cano sits out for fourth straight game

SEATTLE -- Robinson Cano was out of the lineup again Sunday because of a bone bruise on the outside of his left hand between his thumb and index finger. It marked the fourth consecutive game manager Lloyd McClendon chose to rest his $240 million second baseman.

"He's a tough guy but we got to manage 162 games. Not a three-game series or four days," McClendon said. "As a former player I know how painful bone bruises can be and how nagging they can be. The right thing to do is to get it quieted down so you can proceed and get ready to play again so we're almost there. We'll see how he is tomorrow."

McClendon said Cano has been taking ground balls, doing cardio and lifting weights but hasn't participated in hitting drills. He didn't offer a timetable for his return, but Cano was listed as an available pinch-hitter on the lineup card.

Cano didn't speak to the media, but McClendon maintained that his hand was improving.

What caused the injury?

"I'm not so sure if it was just inside pitches. It's just one jar. It doesn't have to be an inside pitch that can cause it," McClendon said.

Cano played the first 52 games of the season, hitting .327 with two home runs and 31 RBIs before sitting out the final portion of Seattle's season-high, 11-game homestand.

Missing this length of time is rare for Cano. Dating back to 2007, he has appeared in 1,172 out of 1,189 games. Meanwhile, the last year he sat out more than three games was 2006, when he played just 122 with the Yankees.