THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEVELAND — Catcher Victor Martinez left the Cleveland Indians’ game against Minnesota after one inning Wednesday night with what the team announced as an inflamed right elbow.
Martinez was scheduled to have an MRI exam on his elbow Thursday, manager Eric Wedge said.
"Victor got hurt on a swing in the first inning," Wedge said. "He winced when it happened. It’s something that’s been bothering him on and off all year. It must have been one of those swings that bit him a little more than usual."
The switch-hitter, batting from the left side, tapped a grounder just past Twins starting pitcher Nick Blackburn. Shortstop Brendan Harris made a barehand pickup and threw to first to easily retire Martinez, who appeared to be labouring as ran.
Martinez hurt the hamstring on opening day when his spikes caught as he tried to advance to second base in Cleveland’s 10-8 win over the Chicago White Sox on March 31. He missed a few games but returned to hit .350 (28-for-80) through the end of April before going into a prolonged slump.
Martinez led Cleveland a year ago with 25 homers, 114 RBIs and a .301 average, but has no homers and only 21 RBIs in 198 at-bats this season, the longest drought of his career. He is hitting .278, but only .216 (25-for-116) in May and June.
His is the latest in a string of injuries to the defending AL Central champions.
Right-hander Jake Westbrook is scheduled for season-ending elbow surgery Thursday, right-hander Fausto Carmona has been sidelined since May 24 with a strained left hip and designated hitter Travis Hafner is on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.
