CHICAGO (AP) 鈥� Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pag谩n is headed to the injured list after he crumpled to the ground and was carted off the field with a left hamstring injury in the ninth inning of a on Tuesday night.
Manager Terry Francona said the team will have a better idea about the extent of the injury after the right-hander undergoes goes scans on Wednesday morning.
鈥淗e is such an integral part of what we do,鈥� Francona said. 鈥淗e’s struggling right now, and we’ve got to be there for him.鈥�
Pag谩n, who has six saves this season, entered the game with the score tied at 2. As he followed through on the first pitch he delivered to Nico Hoerner, Pag谩n hopped off the mound in pain and then went to the ground, clutching his left hamstring. He lay there until Reds training and medical staff arrived.
When Pag谩n was helped back to his feet, he was unable to step on his left leg and was helped into a cart.
Reds righty Jose Franco replaced Pag谩n and walked Hoerner, but ultimately got out of the inning unscathed to send the game to the 10th.
Pag谩n has had a difficult start to this season, entering Tuesday’s game with a 6.43 ERA and three blown save chances in 14 innings pitched. He was unable to protect a one-run lead on Monday night, allowing two runs, including a game-winning solo home run to Michael Conforto in .
Last month, Pag谩n tweaked the same hamstring on the final pitch of the . The next day, he said it as he’d feared.
鈥淚 just went and saw him,鈥� Francona said. 鈥淗e said he hadn’t felt it. He said he warmed up fine. He goes 鈥業 would never do that.鈥� I believe him.鈥�
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