Red Sox Devers Whitlock both exit early vs Guardians

Nigeria confirm Finidi George as new head coach

Rafael Devers hurt his left knee during Tuesday night's 10-7, extra-inning home loss to the Cleveland Guardians, an injury that adds to a frustrating start to the 2024 season for the star Boston Red Sox third baseman. 

Devers, through his interpreter, told reporters that he felt something in his knee after fielding a ground ball in the seventh inning and throwing out Steven Kwan at second base. 

"I felt it there and after that, I couldn't step on my (left) leg," he said. 

Manager Alex Cora said the team still was deciding whether Devers would undergo testing. 

"We're discussing whether we're going to take imaging just to make sure everything is OK," he said. "It came out of nowhere. There's a play he made in the seventh. He was kind of playing in the mini shift and he felt it there. So we'll know more tomorrow."

Devers, a two-time All-Star, is hitting just .205 with two home runs and five RBIs this season -- two of which came on a two-run double an inning before he was hurt against Cleveland. He's also missed six games due to a nagging shoulder issue. 

"Like I said before, I'm not that kind of player that gets injured a lot," Devers told reporters. "So it's very frustrating to have two injuries in less than one month of the regular season going. So yeah, I feel frustrated for me to be in this kind of situation because I don't know what's going on. I prepare myself very well. So for me to go through this with not even a month into the season is very hard."

His injury wasn't the only one for Boston, either. 

Starter Garrett Whitlock allowed two runs and three hits in four innings, then left Tuesday's game because of left oblique tightness. He'll be reevaluated Wednesday, according to Cora. 

And outfielder Tyler O'Neill was held out of the game, a night after needing eight stitches to his forehead after colliding with Devers when the two were chasing a shallow popup. Cora said that O'Neill cleared concussion protocol but likely will be held out of Wednesday's game, as well.