Red Sox slugger leaves game early due to illness

Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras was removed from Wednesday night’s game due to illness, the club announced.

Contreras was subbed out when the Red Sox took the field on defense in the top of the fifth inning. Nick Sogard bumped over from second base to first base to fill Contreras’ spot and Anthony Seigler entered the game to play second.

This is the second time in less than a week that Contreras has left a game early. Last Friday he was hit in the head by a pitch during Boston’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which forced the All-Star first baseman to miss the following game before returning to the lineup on Sunday.

Contreras had already enjoyed an eventful first four innings before leaving on Wednesday. He was 1 for 1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the first and a walk in the third, and he made an impressive throw from first base to nail White Sox outfielder Sam Antonacci at home plate to preserve a 1-0 lead and end the top of the third.