Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia exited Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field with an apparent head injury.
Pedroia was elbowed in the head by Logan Forsythe on a play at second base in the bottom of the second inning. Forsythe was diving head-first into second while tagging up on Ryan Hanigan’s sacrifice fly when he lifted his right arm and clipped Pedroia with plenty of force.
Pedroia hit the turf and motioned to the Red Sox’s dugout immediately after being elbowed. He looked a little wobbly and exited the field moments later.
Will Middlebrooks entered the game after Pedroia’s departure. He took over at third base while Brock Holt shifted from third to second.
The play on which Pedroia was injured was strange. You don’t typically see a baserunner who’s diving into second lift his arm in such a manner, so we’ll see if the Red Sox take exception to the play, especially with it knocking out Boston’s de facto captain.
The Red Sox and Rays, of course, have a history of trading blows. They’ve already had multiple bench-clearing incidents and verbal exchanges this season.
