NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets star Juan Soto was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night, four innings after he fouled a pitch off the top of his right ankle.
Soto hopped toward the Mets dugout after fouling off Framber Valdez’s 2-0 pitch. He dropped to one knee as he was tended to by an athletic trainer and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. Soto, the Mets' designated hitter, remained in the game and struck out, then grounded out in the sixth.
Soto's spot in the batting order came up with a runner on third base in the seventh after Bo Bichette’s tying single. MJ Melendez was at the plate as the pinch hitter when Carson Benge was thrown out at the plate by shortstop Zack Short on a delayed double steal as catcher Dillon Dingler applied the tag.
Soto, who missed 15 games last month with a strained right calf, was injured one night after teammate Francisco Alvarez tore the meniscus in his right knee while fouling off a pitch in the sixth inning of a 10-2 win. Alvarez will undergo surgery and is expected to miss at least six-to-eight weeks.
Soto went 0 for 3 and is 6 for 41 in May. He is hitting .263 with four homers and 11 RBIs.
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New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) reacts after getting hit by the ball on his ankle during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto reacts after getting hit by the ball on his ankle during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
BOSTON (AP) — Pinch-hitter Ceddanne Rafaela had a tiebreaking, two-run homer over the Green Monster and the Boston Red Sox beat Philadelphia 3-1 on Wednesday night while ending the home run streak of the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber at five games.
Rafaela hit a fastball from Orion Kerkering, who replaced Tanner Banks (0-3) with two outs in the sixth.
Making his second start after missing a couple of weeks due to right hamstring tightness that forced him from a start on April 20, Sonny Gray (4-1) gave up one run and two hits over six innings with six strikeouts and one walk.
Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth, working around a pair of walks, and finished a three-hitter to remain perfect in nine save chances.
Slumping Trevor Story hit a solo homer for the Red Sox, who had lost three of their previous four games. He entered hitting .203 with two homers.
Red Sox catcher Connor Wong left in the ninth after rolling his right ankle on a popup that ended the top of the eighth as pitcher Garrett Whitlock made a sliding catch. Wong said he was sore and tests showed the ankle was fine.
Justin Crawford went deep for the Phillies, who dropped to 11-4 since Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson as manager after a 9-19 start.
Schwarber went 0 for 2 after tying a franchise-record by homering in five straight games.
Boston first baseman Willson Contreras returned after missing Tuesday’s series-opening loss due to a bruised right hand sustained when hit by a fastball on Sunday.
Phillies shortstop Trea Tunner didn't start because of an illness, but walked pinch hitting in the ninth.
Philadelphia starter Andrew Painter gave up a run and four hits in five innings. He was tagged for eight runs in just 3 2/3 innings in his previous start.
Phillies LHP Jesús Luzardo (3-3, 5.98 ERA) is set to start the series finale Thursday against Red Sox LHP Ranger Suárez (2-2, 2.77), who spent eight seasons with Philadelphia before signing a $130 million, five-year contract with Boston in January.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) makes the force out, after making the play on a grounder by Philadelphia Phillies' Justin Crawford, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering looks down at a fresh baseball after giving up a two-run home run to Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela, right, celebrates with Wilyer Abreu after his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela is doused with sunflower seeds while celebrating after his two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
