Escobar likely done for season with sprained left knee

BOSTON -- Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar left Tuesday night's 6-2 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park with a left knee sprain he suffered while trying to score in the third inning.

According to manager Joe Maddon, it's unlikely the shortstop will play again this season.

"I guess a sprained knee is kind of what it is," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "[Rays head athletic trainer] Ronnie [Porterfield] is trying to determine if he needs more tests with that and if we're going to do that and how we're going to do that. You won't see him [Wednesday]. You probably won't see him the rest of the season, honestly."

In the third, Ben Zobrist singled with one out and Escobar, who was on second, rounded third and broke for home. The throw from Red Sox left fielder Yoenis Cespedes beat him by a large margin and Escobar appeared to be trying to avoid contact with the catcher, leaving him caught between trying to slide and score standing up, resulting in an awkward arrival.

Maddon alluded to Major League Baseball's rule 7.13, which deals with home-plate collisions, as a contributing factor to Escobar's injury.

"The rule that's supposed to protect the catcher that can negatively impact the baserunner," Maddon said. "Boom, that's what happened."

After Escobar was tagged out, he remained on the ground while Rays trainers tended to his left leg. He made it off the field on his own power, but once the inning was over, he left the game.

Ben Zobrist moved from center field to short and Brandon Guyer entered the game to play center and took Escobar's No. 9 spot in the batting order.