Saunders day to day after being struck on ankle
X-rays neagtive on Rangers' left-hander following line drive by Longoria
ST. PETERSBURG -- Rangers pitcher Joe Saunders left the game against the Rays in the bottom of the fourth inning Friday night after getting hit on the left ankle by a line drive off the bat of Evan Longoria.
X-rays taken at Tropicana Field came back negative and the left-hander is listed as day to day with a bruised left ankle.
The Rays were leading 5-0 with one out in the fourth and a runner on second base when Longoria lined a pitch back up the middle that hit Saunders on the left ankle. The ball caromed into foul territory near first base and Longoria reached safely with an infield single.
After a visit by manager Ron Washington and pitching coach Mike Maddux, Saunders tried to throw one warmup pitch but seemed in discomfort during the follow-through. The Rangers brought in Daniel McCutchen, who was already warming up in the bullpen.