KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Rangers may have to push forward on what’s left of this season without Marcus Semien.
The second baseman, who has started 609 of the 615 games the Rangers have played since he signed four years ago, limped out of Kauffman Stadium in a walking boot after suffering what was described as a “left foot contusion.” Outfielder Evan Carter also left the game after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning. The Rangers did not release results of X-rays on his right wrist.
Semien, who turns 35 in September, fouled the first pitch he saw Thursday off his foot and left the game two innings later. The Rangers said X-rays showed no fracture, but, according to Semien, there is concern over how the spring ligament in his foot will respond. Semien said he was told the force of the ball hitting his foot compressed the ligament under his arch and thus stretched it out. He will undergo an MRI exam on Friday to determine the extent of the damage.
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“It felt like I was stepping on knives with every step,” Semien said. “I felt like I was putting us in jeopardy. I could not even walk without pain.”
After the at-bat, Semien did manage to play defense for two innings and still stood in the middle of what should have been a game-changing play – a relay from right fielder Josh Smith to third baseman Cody Freeman to catch Tyler Tolbert trying to stretch a double to a triple. The play ended the Royals’ second inning.
When the Rangers came to bat in the top of the third and Semien’s spot arrived, Ezequiel Duran pinch hit for him with two on and no outs. Duran fouled out to pitcher Michael Lorenzen.
Carter was hit by left-handed Daniel Lynch IV on his right (front) wrist in the seventh. He remained in the game to run the bases and played, but was replaced in the field in the bottom of the eighth.
“In the moment, you’ve got some adrenaline,” Carter said. “But it started getting really stiff.”
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