Cuddyer day to day with wrist, forearm injuries
NL batting leader makes tumbling grab, doesn't expect Rockies to shut him down
DENVER -- Keeping with the theme that the hits just keep on hurting, National League batting leader Michael Cuddyer left Wednesday night's game against the Cardinals after the sixth inning with injuries to his left wrist and right forearm.
Cuddyer, who went 1-for-3 and has a .331 average, suffered the injuries while diving to catch Daniel Descalso's line drive to end the sixth inning. He landed oddly on his left wrist and rolled over it. On his way off the field, he noticed swelling on his right forearm.
"The main thing is my wrist -- I caught it [and twisted it]," Cuddyer said. "Then I don't know if I hit a sprinkler head or what with this forearm. I was running off the field and it looked like a golf ball, like you could tee it up right off my arm. Grass shouldn't do that. I don't know what I hit out there.
"I came out because of my wrist. I mean, the forearm is tight and swollen. I guess you could say I came out for both. But the wrist is the one that bothers me more."
Wednesday night was the 101st time in his 125 games played this season that Cuddyer, who represented the club in the All-Star Game, has had at least one hit. Cuddyer will know Thursday how bad his injuries are, but he doesn't want to sit out long. There isn't a thought of allowing himself to be shut down, even if it does minimize the risk to his batting average.
"I'm not letting that happen," said Cuddyer, who is ahead of the Braves' Chris Johnson (.327) for the NL's top batting average. "That's the last thing on my mind. I'm hitting 60 points higher than my career average. The last thing I'm worried about is the batting title."
These days more of the Rockies' key players are listed with Cuddyer -- day to day -- rather than on a lineup card.
Cuddyer joins All-Star left fielder Carlos Gonzalez (sprained right middle finger), leadoff batter and center fielder Dexter Fowler (twisted left knee), rookie and Gold Glove-contending third baseman Nolan Arenado (sore right thumb) and 21-homer-hitting catcher Wilin Rosario (strained right calf).
Fowler came off the bench to single in the ninth but still is not cleared to play a full game.
"It's really frustrating, no question about that, but what can you do?" Cuddyer said.