Josh Naylor Leaves Game With Shoulder Pain
Mariners’ starting pitcher Josh Naylor left Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox in the third inning due to shoulder discomfort, according to manager Dan Wilson. In his first at-bat against White Sox pitcher Shane Smith, Naylor grimaced after swinging at a high, inside fastball. He walked down the first base line and back before finishing his at-bat, which ended with a strikeout. Naylor remained in the game, but then left after hitting a ground ball to the second baseman to end the third inning.Naylor, one of the Mariners’ most prominent acquisitions at the trade deadline from the Arizona Diamondbacks, is batting .289, with 14 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases this season. Since joining the Mariners, the left-handed hitter is batting .261 with three home runs and 10 stolen bases. While playing with the Diamondbacks, the left-handed batter was removed from a game on June 23, also against the White Sox, in the fourth inning due to right shoulder discomfort. Naylor avoided a stint on the injured list and returned to the lineup two days later. Donovan Solano, who hadn’t played in two weeks, played first base for Seattle when Naylor left the game. The Mariners, who swept a series for the first time since July 11-13, closed to within 1 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the American League West.Wilson told reporters after the game that Naylor is day-to-day.
Dan Wilson
