Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman leaves game with right quad tightness

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman was removed in the fifth inning of Friday’s doubleheader opener against the Baltimore Orioles because of right quadriceps tightness and hopes he doesn't go on the injured list.

“I felt my quad grab so I didn’t continue running to second base," Bregman said after Boston's 19-5 win. “I stopped and came back to the bag so I wouldn’t make it any worse.”

A two-time World Series winner who spent the first nine seasons of his big league career with the Houston, Bregman signed a $120 million, three-year contract with Boston in February and is hitting .299 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs.

“I knew I needed to come out and see the trainer,” Bregman said. “We’ll know a lot more tomorrow after sleeping and seeing how it presents in the morning. All of my strength is still there, which is good.”

In 2021, Bregman was sidelined between June 16 and Aug. 21 with a left quadriceps strain.

“I’m actually positive based off what I originally thought,” Bregman said.

Nick Sogard started at second in the doubleheader nightcap. Manger Alex Cora also mentioned Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro as third base candidates but did not include Rafael Devers as a possible option. Devers was moved off third base – his primary position during the first eight seasons of his big league career – after Boston signed Bregman.

Red Sox management approached Devers about playing first base after Triston Casas injured the patellar tendon in his left knee on May 2 but Devers told the club that he wasn’t interested in changing positions for the second time since the start of spring training.

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Boston Red Sox's Alex Bregman heads for the dugout after injuring himself on a single against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Friday, May 23, 2025, at Fenway Park in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora puts his hand on the shoulder of Alex Bregman as he leaves the game after injuring himself running out a single against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Friday, May 23, 2025, at Fenway Park in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Boston Red Sox's Alex Bregman bends over before leaving the game after injuring himself on a single against the Baltimore Orioles during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Friday, May 23, 2025, at Fenway Park in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman, left, celebrates with Alex Bregman, right, after defeating the New York Mets in a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, May 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Alex Bregman, left, celebrates after his double in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Fenway Park, Monday, May 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Red Sox's Alex Bregman is led off the field by manager Alex Cora after injuringf himself on a single during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles in the first baseball game of a doubleheader Friday, May 23, 2025, at Fenway Park in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australia star Steve Smith was ruled out of the third Ashes cricket test against England just before the toss of the coin on Wednesday because of a lingering illness.

Smith led Australia to eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins. He hit the winning runs in Brisbane as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja was recalled to the starting lineup as a last-minute replacement for Smith. Khawaja missed the second test with a back injury.

Fast bowler Cummins won the toss and elected to bat in his first test since sustaining a back injury in July. England needs a victory in the third test to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes.

Players wore wearing black armbands to honor the 15 people killed and dozens injured in an antisemitic attack at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday that targeted the Jewish community celebrating the start of Hannukah.

Police described the mass shooting as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.

Flags were flown at half-mast at the Adelaide Oval on Day 1 of the third test.

Folk singer John Williamson performed his fabled song “True Blue” in a pre-match program that included a moment’s silence, the Indigenous “Welcome to Country” and the Australian and England anthems.

The late withdrawal of Smith meant there were three changes to Australia's XI from the second test, with Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon returning at the expense of pace bowlers Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser and Khawaja switching back into the batting lineup at No. 4.

Australia team management said Smith had been feeling unwell in recent days with symptoms including nausea and dizziness.

“He was assessed and monitored closely and was close to being available to play. However, given the persistence of the symptoms, a decision was made not to proceed,” the team said in a statement. Smith is being treated for inner ear issues.

“This is something Steve has experienced intermittently in the past and is being managed accordingly.”

Smith is expected to be available for the fourth test, starting Dec. 26 in Melbourne.

England made one change, with Josh Tongue replacing fellow fast bowler Gus Atkinson.

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Lineups:

Australia: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Jake Weatherald, left, and Australia's captain Steve Smith walk off the field after winning the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)