Xander Bogaerts Expects To Play Sunday After Exiting Game With Hamstring Cramp

The number of injured Red Sox players has piled up during their nine-game losing streak, so when Xander Bogaerts exited Saturday’s game in the 11th inning with a right hamstring cramp, it looked like Boston was primed to lose another key player.

Luckily, the Red Sox caught a break — something they haven’t been able to say much lately — and that won’t be the case.

“I felt a little bit of tightness on the second pitch of the last at-bat,” Bogaerts explained after the Red Sox’s 15-inning, 6-5 loss to the Rays. “It just cramped up, and I knew something wasn’€™t good.

Bogaerts grabbed at his leg and was in obvious pain as he dug in with two strikes on him, only to strike out looking. Fortunately, Bogaerts, who collected two hits in the 15-inning marathon, wasn’t too worried about the injury forcing him to miss any time.

“Normally I get it mostly in my calves. I’€™ve had that a few times this year, maybe twice. This was probably the first time I’€™ve felt it in my hamstring area during the season. But I think I’€™ll be ready for (Sunday).”

With Shane Victorino headed to the disabled list, Mike Napoli nursing a dislocated finger and David Ortiz dealing with a sore calf, the last thing the Red Sox needed was another injury, but after the game, Bogaerts emphasized that his hamstring wouldn’t be a lingering problem.

“I went to the trainer’s room, and they loosened it up,” Bogaerts added. “Thank God, I don’t think it’s something that serious, just a cramp. Something I get sometimes.”