NEW YORK (AP) — With a downcast look and a soft voice, New York Yankees reliever Jonathan Loáisiga said he needs season-ending elbow surgery and will be sidelined for 10 to 12 months.
A 29-year-old right-hander, Loáisiga said he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing a changeup to Jorge Barrosa, his final batter in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 6-5, 11-inning win at Arizona.
“Very frustrating. Really tough,” Loáisiga said through a translator Saturday in a nearly empty Yankees clubhouse. “Last year the injury took me out of the game for quite some time. And this year, after this, I’m going to end up losing the rest of the season. So tough moment to deal with but at the same time there’s a will inside and I want to be out there pitching, so you have to use that as motivation and rely on that to carry you through a moment like this.”
Also Saturday, third baseman DJ LeMahieu said he has resumed baseball activities as he recovers from a broken right foot caused by a foul ball on March 16.
Loáisiga has a forearm strain caused by a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will have surgery with Texas Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister. Loáisiga had Tommy John surgery with Yankees head team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad on May 1, 2016, and returned to the mound in June 2017 in the Gulf Coast League.
Loáisiga said he anticipates this operation will be ligament repair rather than replacement, known as Tommy John surgery. The rehab time for repair usually is shorter.
“It’s looking like the repair, but once you get in there you never know for certain,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I think they’ll see once they make the final call on what they’re going to do and then once you get in there, what you find, as well.”
Loáisiga is 19-11 with a 3.44 ERA in 152 relief appearances and 11 starts.
He didn't pitch for the Yankees between May 9 and Aug. 15 in 2019 because of a strained right shoulder, between Sept. 1 and 16 in 2020 because of an unspecified medical condition, between July 9 and 24 in 2021 because of COVID-19, between Sept. 3 and 29 that year because of a strained right shoulder, between May 22 and July 14 in 2022 because of right shoulder inflammation, and between April 5 and Aug. 8 last year with right elbow inflammation. That injury also ended his season on Sept. 9.
“It's kind of been pretty much something every year that’s either tripped him up for sometimes short periods of time, obviously sometimes longer," Boone said. "Hopefully whatever road he goes down here, this is something that serves him well moving forward in his career because he is a really good pitcher.”
Loáisiga is eligible for free agency after the World Series. He didn't want to think about the possibility he had thrown his final pitch for the Yankees.
“No, no, no,” he said. “My mind is not there right now. My mind is on what I need to do next. go see the doctor, go through this and find my way getting back here.”
The 35-year-old LeMahieu has been out since fouling a ball off the foot during a spring training game. He opened the season on the 10-day injured list.
LeMahieu took batting practice Friday for the first time since getting hurt but said he isn't ready for game at-bats. After taking batting practice, fielding grounders and running the bases in the next week, he may be ready for a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment.
“I don't anticipate it's super long,” he said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga makes the play for an out on a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Phoenix. Loáisiga said he needs season-ending elbow surgery and will be sidelined for 10-to-12 months. The29-year-old right-hander, said he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing a changeup to Jorge Barrosa, his final batter in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 6-5, 11-inning win at Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loáisiga throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Phoenix. Loáisiga said he needs season-ending elbow surgery and will be sidelined for 10-to-12 months. The29-year-old right-hander, said he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing a changeup to Jorge Barrosa, his final batter in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 6-5, 11-inning win at Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loáisiga throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Phoenix. Loáisiga said he needs season-ending elbow surgery and will be sidelined for 10-to-12 months. The29-year-old right-hander, said he felt a pop in his elbow while throwing a changeup to Jorge Barrosa, his final batter in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 6-5, 11-inning win at Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andy Pages had a walkoff single in the 11th inning for his fourth hit of the game and the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Friday night.
Gavin Stone pitched well and Teoscar Hernandez homered in a matchup of two of baseball’s best teams. Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. homered for the Braves.
With Will Smith on second base in the 11th, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker intentionally walked Max Muncy. Teoscar Hernandez hit into a fielder’s choice and Pages, who battled Jesse Chavez (1-1) to a full count in an at-bat that lasted eight pitches.
“I was very happy to be able to do that,” Pages said through an interpreter. “My first career walkoff and just to be able to help the team win.”
Michael Grove (1-1) got the victory, retiring the side in the 11th. Orlando Arcia hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for Atlanta to score Luke Williams from second.
The Dodgers answered in the bottom of the 10th. Shohei Ohtani singled to center field to score Chris Taylor from second. Ohtani was 1 for 2 with two walks and a stolen base, his seventh of the season.
Stone pitched six strong innings and allowed just one run. He struck out five and allowed five hits. The 25-year-old Stone, who made just eight appearances in his first year in the majors last season, is making strides in the Dodgers rotation, especially with Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Dustin May and Bobby Miller out with injuries.'
“Way different,” Stone said of his outing this year versus last year against the Braves. “I’m way more confident on the mound and way more confident in my pitches. Yeah, just way different.”
Charlie Morton allowed two earned runs in six innings, scattering five hits and striking out five. Riley homered in the first inning, a 449-foot solo shot to left, which was his third of the season and first since April 7.
Two batters before, Acuna, who has struggled offensively this season, singled to short center field but later got picked off second base. In trying to get back to second, he stumbled and then hobbled on his right foot back to the dugout but stayed in the game and homered in the eighth inning to tie it at 2. In the third inning, Smith hit a run-scoring single to score Ohtani to tie it. Teoscar Hernandez hit a go-ahead solo home run to right field in the fourth inning. It was Hernandez’s seventh home run of the season.
“Watching (Pages) play, watching him develop these couple of weeks since he’s been up here, he’s a great guy and he’s always asking how to get better,” Hernandez said. “Just trying to be a better player, even better. And today he showed it. He’s made for big moments. He’s not afraid to go out there and have success at any moment.”
In the second inning, Jarrad Kelenic made a great throw from left field, an absolute perfect dart to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, to get a sliding Pages out at home plate. Acuna could be turning a corner on his struggles, perhaps gaining momentum with that homer.
“He’s still doing OK. He’s adding a lot to what we’re doing,” Snitker said before the game. “He’s scoring a lot of runs and making plays. He got a few hits the other day. He’s going to be fine.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: C Sean Murphy (oblique strain) is starting to swing a bat and is doing catching drills, according to Snitker.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder) played catch with Walker Buehler Friday and threw his first bullpen since surgery six months ago … RHP Bobby Miller (right shoulder inflammation) threw off the mound … RHP Walter Buehler (Tommy John surgery) will make his first start in almost two years on Monday against the Marlins.
UP NEXT
Braves RHP Bryce Elder (1-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his third start of the season Saturday, opposing Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 2.72 ERA).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani singles during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. Chris Taylor scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) throws to first after outting Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages (84) during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. runs the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. returns to the dugout after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after a single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. Chris Taylor scored. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages singles during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. Will Smith scored. The Dodgers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages (84) celebrates with Teoscar Hernández after a single during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. Will Smith scored. The Dodgers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages singles during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. Will Smith scored. The Dodgers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Andy Pages (84) leaves the field after a walk-off single during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. Will Smith scored. The Dodgers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith (16) scores on a walk-off single hit by Andy Pages during the eleventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Los Angeles, Friday, May 3, 2024. The Dodgers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
