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Interim manager Tony Mansolino remains confident that infielder Jordan Westburg will avoid the injured list.
Westburg dived into second base last night and jammed the left index finger that he sprained in New York, but X-rays for a fracture were negative.
“Very day-to-day, not nearly as bad as last time,” Mansolino said. “Probably couple days would be my guess. So I think it will be a little quicker than last time.”
Emanuel Rivera is in the clubhouse to give the Orioles an extra infielder.
“With the way things are kind of situated right now, it made sense,” Mansolino said.
Instincts took over for Westburg on his second-inning double. He dived into the bag, exposing his hand to punishment, and was removed for a pinch-hitter in the third.
Sliding feet-first obviously would be the safest technique.
“It was absolutely a discussion yesterday at noon,” Mansolino said. “That’s kind of what I was saying last night, that it’s in his DNA. It’s hard to clarify that. We talked about the exact scenario, but Westy just plays so hard. Even that ball right there, if the guy makes a good throw to second base, he’s probably out by a couple steps, but you can’t change that about the guy.
“He’s just kind of who he is. But when he does come back, hopefully going through this, he is able to get on his butt for his next slide because it’s gonna pop up again. But it’s tough. It’s just Westy, which is what makes him a great player.”
Pitcher Albert Suárez, on the 60-day injured list with a strained right shoulder, is throwing from 90 feet and expects to move back to 105 after the weekend. He could get back on a mound in two-to-three weeks.
Suárez had an MRI on his shoulder this week in Dallas, with Dr. Keith Meister, and said he’s about 80 percent healed.
“It feels good,” he said.
“I just think about being patient, because the most important thing is to be healthy. It is a muscle that needs to be healed. So for me, just be patient.”
A return date of Aug. 1 remains in play for Suárez, who appeared in one game in the opening series in Toronto before his shutdown.
“Hopefully,” he said. “I might get another MRI. If it’s completely healed, I’ll be good to go with live BP and games.”
Gary Sánchez is the designated hitter today after catching last night and finishing with a single, double, home run and four RBIs in a 22-8 win.
“Felt great, just because that’s what we expect,” he said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “I think we have the talent to do that and hopefully we continue to do that going forward.”
Sánchez is batting .382/.462/.765 (13-for-34) with a double, four home runs and 14 RBIs in 10 games this month since his reinstatement from the injured list.
“I’ve been working really hard and putting in a lot of hard work when I was injured, as well, and I’ll say that right now I’m in a really good stretch,” he said. “I think every hitter goes through that, and right now I’m going through a good stretch and hopefully I can keep it going.”
The crowd chanted Sánchez’s name last night as he came to the plate, caught up in the moment and rooting for another big hit and more scoring at the rain-soaked ballpark.
“Yeah, it feels good,” he said. “I think as a player you want the fan support in that way, and it was a great feeling for sure.”
Coby Mayo hit his first major league home run against shortstop José Caballero, much to the amusement of the home dugout. Sánchez missed it.
He also missed the significance of it.
"Honestly, I was focused on putting on my catcher's gear and everything, so I just heard the reaction from the guys and I was honestly confused," he said. "Obviously, it's my first year here, so I didn't know that he hadn't homered yet or anything, so once I saw their reaction, I was like, 'Oh wow, that's pretty cool.'"
For the Rays
Josh Lowe RF
Brandon Lowe 2B
Yandy Díaz DH
Jonathan Aranda 1B
Junior Caminero 3B
Jake Mangum LF
Chandler Simpson CF
Taylor Walls SS
Matt Thaiss C
Zack Littell RHP
