Another leg issue for Rafaela
Ceddanne Rafaela didn’t even make it three innings. The Red Sox center fielder left Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Cleveland with tightness in his right hamstring, a fresh setback just 17 games after he came back from a strained right quadriceps.
Rafaela opened the game with a diving catch, then singled in the second inning but couldn’t get to first base at full speed. That was enough for manager Chad Tracy to pull him. “Just saw him continuing to flex (the leg). That’s all,” Tracy said. “He seemed to have felt some cramping in the back there.”
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A tough year to stay on the field
When healthy, Rafaela has been one of Boston’s most productive players. The All-Star and reigning Gold Glove winner is hitting .284 with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs across 136 games this season, numbers that make every trip to the injured list sting a little more for the Red Sox.
To make room when Rafaela first returned from the quad strain, Boston optioned outfielder Nate Eaton to Triple-A Worcester. Eaton had hit just .146 with one home run in 23 games with the big-league club, leaving little doubt about who the team wanted back in center field.
What comes next
Boston hasn’t announced whether Rafaela will need another injured list stint, but a second leg issue in less than three weeks is not a good sign this late in the season. The Red Sox will provide an update on his availability in the coming days.
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