X-rays negative on Kiermaier's right ankle
Outfielder plunked by Hernandez in sixth inning of Wednesday's loss
ST. PETERSBURG -- In the aftermath of the Rays' 3-0 loss to the Mariners Wednesday afternoon, good news came when X-rays to Kevin Kiermaier's right ankle were negative.
With one out in the sixth, Seattle starter Felix Hernandez hit Kiermaier on his right ankle. The Rays center fielder went to the ground in obvious pain, but after being tended to by Rays trainers, he took his base.
"I didn't think it was broken or anything like that," Kiermaier said. "It got me square on the [ankle] bone. I got an X-ray, it was negative, nothing showed. I didn't think it was broken. Just for precautionary reasons we did it. But very tight right now. And sore. If you get hit on the bone it's going to be sore. But I'll be OK. Get some treatment and I'll be good to go as soon as possible."
Kiermaier played defense in the top of the seventh, but he left the game prior to the top of the eighth.
"I was just trying to tough it out right there," Kiermaier said. "But I was definitely trying to favor my left foot, put all my weight on that one since my right one wasn't feeling great. I just felt like as the game was going to go on, I didn't move around, it was going to tighten up. And it was getting very tight on me. So we made the decision where I needed to shut it down for the rest of the day and get it looked at."
Kiermaier said after taking it easy on Thursday while the Rays are off, he expects to be back in the lineup Friday night when the Rays travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles in the first game of a three-game series.
"It's all good and I'll be good to go," Kiermaier said.
The Rays have had the injury bug all season. On Sunday alone, they lost first baseman James Loney to the 15-day disabled list with a middle-finger fracture on his left hand and outfielder Steven Souza Jr., who has been out since Sunday -- though he hasn't been put on the disabled list -- with a sprained left wrist.
Kiermaier is hitting .227 with three home runs and 11 RBIs while playing spectacular defense in center field.