Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez to sit out AL wild-card game with sprained ankle
Canada's Nick Pivetta, who notched 2nd career save Sunday, on 26-man roster
Boston Red Sox star J.D. Martinez will miss Tuesday's American League wild-card game against the New York Yankees at 8:08 p.m. ET with a sprained left ankle.
Martinez was left off the 26-man wild-card roster after injuring his ankle in the fifth inning of Sunday's 7-5 win at Washington in the regular-season finale for both teams when he tripped over second base while jogging to right field. He continued to receive treatment on the ankle Monday.
Outfielder Jarren Duran was included on the wild-card roster, as was pitcher Nick Pivetta of Victoria, who threw an inning of scoreless relief on Sunday.
Martinez, 34, batted .286 with 28 homers and 99 runs batted in for the Red Sox this season, his fourth in Boston.
The veteran outfielder/DH is a four-time all-star and has a .290 career batting average with 266 homers and 837 RBI since making his major league debut with the Houston Astros in 2011.
JD Martinez hurting himself tripping over the base on his way to play defense is one of the more bizarre injuries I’ve seen. Have to imagine he’s in rough shape. Would’ve thought they’d keep him for a Kirk Gibson moment off the bench, even if he can’t really run.
—@JMastrodonatoBecause the National League does not use a DH in games played in its stadiums, a rule that could change as soon as next season, Martinez was playing in right field against Washington.
"He stepped on the bag and twisted the ankle," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "He grinded that inning defensively."
It was only the seventh game in all of 2021 that Martinez started in right field. He was in the starting lineup as a DH for 113 games and as the left fielder for 28.
Boston's Nathan Eovaldi (11-9) takes on the Yankees' Gerrit Cole (16-8) Tuesday at Fenway. The winner will face the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays beginning Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Heaney left off Yankees roster
Outfielder Greg Allen was added to the New York Yankees' roster for Tuesday night's contest along with Rob Brantly as a third catcher.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney and right-hander Brody Koerner were designated for assignment to open roster spots.
With Cole on the mound, Kyle Higashioka will be behind the plate. Manager Aaron Boone said starting catcher Gary Sanchez will not be his designated hitter, leaving Sanchez to begin the game on the bench along with Brantly, who was 3-for-20 in six games with the Yankees this season.
Allen is speedy and could be used as a pinch runner.
WATCH | Blue Jays fall short in AL wild-card race:
With files from CBC Sports and The Associated Press
