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Hanley Ramirez Injured After Awkward Collision At First Base

BOSTON (CBS) -- Hanley Ramirez has been surprisingly decent at first base this season for the Boston Red Sox, but he's still learning the intricacies of the position.

That much was clear in Thursday night's loss to the New York Yankees at Fenway Park, as Ramirez was injured on one of the more awkward plays you'll see out of a first baseman.

Ramirez hurt his back after a nasty collision at first in the eighth inning. Dustin Pedroia made a fantastic play to snag a sharp bouncer up the middle off the bat Gary Sanchez, but his throw bounced in front of Ramirez, prompting him to back into the base to try and make a play rather than try to scoop the throw. That put Ramirez in the path of Sanchez and resulted in a knee to the thigh for the first baseman, causing him to fall to the ground hard.

Ramirez was on the ground in pain for several minutes.


"He's sore," Boston manager John Farrell said after the loss. "After the collision, it was the impact to the ground, the low back was jarred. He's got some back spasms going on, particularly the remainder of that half inning. Wasn't going to chance it with any kind of violence to the swing."

Ramirez actually remained in the game and finished the half inning at first, but was lifted for a pinch-hitter when it was his turn at bat in the bottom of the eighth. That's too bad too, since Ramirez busted out of an 0-for-16 slump with a 2-for-3 night, driving in Boston's only two runs of the contest.

"It's unbelievable, bro. Every time I start getting hot, something happens," Ramirez said after the game. "But I'm just going to keep grinding."

After tests on his back came back clean, Ramirez said he hopes to be back at first base on Friday night when Boston welcomes the Diamondbacks to Fenway for a three-game set.

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