BOSTON -- Red Sox slugger Hanley Ramirez avoided significant injury after being drilled on the right wrist on a pitch by Yankees right-hander Sonny Gray in the first inning of Thursday's 6-3 win.
X-rays taken moments later came back negative and Ramirez merely has a contusion, allowing the Red Sox to breathe a sigh of relief.
Manager Alex Cora said he will likely give Ramirez the day off on Friday night against the Orioles, but he could return as early as Saturday.
The pitch actually hit Ramirez's left hand first and then deflected to his right wrist. Initially in a lot of pain, Ramirez immediately exited the game and was replaced by pinch-runner Mitch Moreland.
Moreland wound up having a good game off the bench, going 2-for-3 and making some nice plays on defense.
The right-handed-hitting Ramirez has been rejuvenated this season and is hitting .357 with two homers and 12 RBIs.
Ramirez was plunked one day after the drama of Wednesday, when Red Sox right-hander Joe Kelly drilled Christopher Austin in the back with a pitch and a benches-clearing fracas ensued. Suspensions and fines were handed out before Thursday's game as a result.
Nobody thought Gray was trying to hit Ramirez.
"I think everybody handled it the right way," said Cora. "No warnings. Just watch the game and go from there. We were fine. Like I said before, the main goal today was to win the series, and we did."