BOSTON (DA) — Ceddanne Rafaela’s return to the Boston Red Sox lasted only two innings Wednesday after the Curaçao standout left a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians with tightness in his right hamstring.
Rafaela, activated from the 10-day injured list after recovering from a right quad strain, went 1-for-1 in his first game back. He singled to open the bottom of the second inning but showed discomfort while running to first base.
After being checked by manager Chad Tracy and a trainer, Rafaela remained in the game and advanced to second later in the inning. Jarren Duran replaced him in center field before the top of the third.
The Red Sox later announced that Rafaela had exited because of right hamstring tightness.
Rafaela offered an encouraging assessment after the game, saying the issue was “not even close” to being as severe as the quad injury that had sidelined him. He said he believed it may have been a cramp, possibly related to hydration, and added that the hamstring already felt much better.
Rafaela is expected to undergo an MRI on the right hamstring Thursday, according to reports.
Tracy said during the game that Rafaela had continued flexing the back of his leg after returning to the field, leading Boston to make the precautionary change.
The early departure came on Rafaela’s first appearance since coming off the injured list and without a minor league rehabilitation game before his return.
Boston went on to win 1-0, snapping a three-game losing streak. Sonny Gray threw 6 scoreless innings, while Andruw Monasterio delivered the game’s only run with an RBI single in the sixth.