Indians’ Encarnacion exits game with gruesome ankle injury
CLEVELAND — The Indians suffered a potentially serious blow at the end of the first inning on Friday, when Edwin Encarnacion had to leave the game with a sprained right ankle trying to get back to second base in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees at Progressive Field.
The Indians DH was at second base with one out when Jay Bruce lined out to shortstop Didi Gregorius behind the bag at second. Encarnacion lunged back awkwardly and twisted his ankle. He stayed on the ground for several minutes while being tended to by the Indians’ trainers and had to be helped off the field.
Encarnacion was initially called safe on the play, but the Yankees challenged the play and replays showed that Gregorius was able to double up Encarnacion to get CC Sabathia out of a jam with the scre tied at 2-2.
Michael Brantley replaced Encarnacion at DH and struck out in the second.