ST. LOUIS -- Poised to score the go-ahead run in St. Louis' eventual 6-4 win over the Rays on Saturday night, Jedd Gyorko instead came up hobbling with a right hamstring injury that the Cardinals fear could keep him off the field for the foreseeable future.
Manager Mike Matheny said the early reports "didn't look good," though Gyorko will be re-evaluated on Sunday to determine the severity of an injury he suffered rounding third with two out in the eighth inning.
"It grabbed pretty good," Gyorko said. "It doesn't feel great."
Gyorko halted his hustle home immediately, retreated to third and then walked gingerly toward the Cardinals dugout. He did not wait for one of the team's athletic trainers to consult with him.
"There was no need to have Mike come out there and waste 10 minutes of everyone's time," Gyorko said. "I knew I was at least done for that game."
Now the Cardinals brace for how much more time Gyorko may miss. He's been their everyday third baseman since Jhonny Peralta faltered early in the season, and Gyorko had recently enjoyed an offensive resurgence after going through a second-half funk. After spending much of the year as the team's cleanup hitter, Gyorko leads the Cardinals in RBIs (64), and multihit games (29).
If the Cardinals put Gyorko on the 10-day disabled list and choose to call up another infielder, Aledmys Diaz and Alex Mejia, both of whom are on the 40-man roster, would be candidates. Greg Garcia could also fill in at third.