Blue Jays’ Espinal leaves game vs. Phillies with left-side discomfort

Toronto Blue Jays' Santiago Espinal is greeted in the dugout after he scored on a single by Bo Bichette against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 7, 2022, in Seattle. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal left Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies with left-side discomfort, the team announced.

Espinal started the game at second base but was pinch-hit for by Cavan Biggio in the top of the seventh. It’s unclear when Espinal was injured but he was 0-2 at the plate before departing the game.

Espinal, who was selected to his first all-star game this season, has been one of the Blue Jays’ important utility players, playing second, short and third this season. In 134 games entering play Wednesday, he has hit .268/.324/.371 with seven home runs and 51 RBIs.

The Blue Jays travel to Tampa next for a four-game weekend series with the Rays.

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