ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina left Sunday night’s Game 2 of the National League Championship Series in the sixth inning due to a strained left oblique muscle.
The six-time All-Star apparently was hurt while trying to run out of the batter’s box on a 4-6-3 double play.
After hitting a 1-2 pitch from San Francisco Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt right at second baseman Joe Panik, Molina turned to run and instead bowed at the waist in pain. After about a minute, Molina limped off the field, accompanied by a trainer and manager Mike Matheny.
Tony Cruz, one of two backup catchers on St. Louis’ NLCS roster, came in to catch for the top of the seventh. The team didn’t immediately announce the specifics of Molina’s injury.
At the time of Molina’s departure, the game was tied 2-2.