Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had to leave Friday’s game against the visiting New York Yankees after colliding with shortstop George Lombard Jr. at third base.
The unusual play occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Blue Jays had Nathan Lukes on second and Guerrero on first with one out.
George Springer chopped a bouncer toward third, where McMahon gloved it, stepped on third for the force, and threw toward first in one motion. McMahon’s throw short-hopped first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. and bounced between him and the mound.
Guerrero, seeing the ball loose and third uncovered, sprinted toward the bag. Lombard tried to race to the base to catch Garcia’s throw and tag out Guerrero, but the ball eluded him and Lombard banged into Guerrero’s head and neck as he popped up from his slide.
While the ball bounced into foul territory, Guerrero got up and scored, pulling Toronto into a 1-1 tie. A trainer escorted Guerrero to the dugout.
The Blue Jays added another run to take the lead, but Guerrero did not take the field in the top of the seventh. Charles McAdoo took his spot at first.
The Blue Jays did not have an immediate diagnosis of Guerrero’s condition. He was 1-for-3 in Friday’s game to move the six-time All-Star’s slash line to an uncustomary .263/.337/.356
–Field Level Media
