Hamstring discomfort forces Snider from finale
Right fielder to get treatment on Pirates' off-day before series vs. Reds
PITTSBURGH -- Travis Snider left Wednesday's game against the Cardinals in the third inning with left hamstring discomfort.
Snider reached on a bunt single, but he looked to be in pain while taking a lead off first base. Outfielder Jose Tabata pinch-ran for Snider two batters later and took over his post in right field. Snider plans to get treatment on the hamstring Thursday during the Pirates' off-day, and he will be reevaluated before they open a three-game series with the Reds on Friday.
The 26-year-old has been playing regularly in the last two weeks, and the team sent slumping rookie Gregory Polanco down to Triple-A Indianapolis to work on his swing. Snider has a .311 average in his last 17 games entering Wednesday, but his bunt single was just his second hit in his last 21 at-bats.
Snider was the third Pirates player to be removed for injury reasons in the last two games. Andrew McCutchen (rib) and Pedro Alvarez (right foot) were both taken out of Tuesday night's 5-2 win. McCutchen returned to the lineup Wednesday, but Alvarez did not, and was unavailable in Wednesday's game.