BOSTON -- Dee Gordon is anxious to get back on the field. When he’s fully healthy, that is.
“[I’m] feeling better,” Gordon said Saturday morning. “Definitely dodged a bullet. It’s sore. I’m working to get back out there.”
The second baseman is day to day after being hit on the wrist right by the Yankees’ J.A. Happ on Thursday. He is receiving treatment, and his activities are limited to “squeezing hands.”
“For me, [patience] is big because I like to play baseball all the time,” Gordon said.
Gordon has been available to play since then, but even in a pinch-run situation he would have to do so without putting his hand down while sliding. He is batting .304 with 10 stolen bases (second-most in the Majors) over 38 games this season.
“He has embraced what we’re preaching here. He has shown that,” acting manager Manny Acta said. “He has stayed patient at the plate, and now he’s going to have to stay patient after this injury. The fact that he’s still available to us is great. But he understands that by being patient, he’s going to have to take his time and come back out there and compete at this level. So if he’s impatient and comes before his time, it’s not going to help him or the team.”
Now in his ninth season, Gordon isn’t fond of observing from the dugout. He would rather be on the field, though he understands that time will come soon enough if he waits.
“[I miss] playing,” Gordon said. “It’s fun to get out there and you’re part of the game, you’re part of the action. When you’re not part of the action, it feels like you’re not doing anything. That’s just how I am.”
The Mariners placed infielder Dylan Moore, who also suffered a right wrist injury (contusion) on the 10-day IL on Friday and recalled infielders J.P. Crawford and Shed Long to help fill the absences.
Long makes Major League debut
A day after Long was called up from Triple-A Tacoma, the 23-year-old batted ninth in the order and played second base. Long was 0-for-3 with a walk on Saturday.
“It was awesome,” Long said before making his debut. “It was kind of the same, that’s what’s weird.”
Long batted .276 with 25 runs, five home runs, 21 RBIs, five doubles and four triples with 14 walks in Triple-A this season.
“He’s a very confident kid. We found that out in Spring Training,” Acta said. “He knows that he belongs up here. It’s just a matter of time.”
Long is the 38th different player to be used by the Mariners this season.
Servais checks in
Even though manager Scott Servais is miles away from Boston attending his daughter’s graduation at Ole Miss, he is keeping a close eye on the Mariners.
“Are you kidding me?” Acta said with a smile. “Yes, I heard from him.”
Acta, who managed 890 games over six seasons for the Nationals and Indians, has filled in for Servais in the past. Servais will return to the team Saturday night ahead of Sunday afternoon’s matinee at Fenway Park.
“We talked about last night and what today might bring,” Acta said. “So he’s looking forward to enjoying this family day and getting back over here tonight.”