NewsHanley, Cantu leave game with injuries
Star shortstop bruises knee; first baseman sprains ankle
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/03/09 7:53 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA -- Victory came with a price for the Marlins on Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu exited Florida's 4-3 victory over the Phillies because of injuries.
Ramirez has a bruised right knee, caused by sliding hard into third base during a steal in the first inning. And in the sixth, Cantu sprained his right ankle while running the bases. An X-ray came back negative, but Cantu won't play in the season finale Sunday.
Ramirez, meanwhile, is questionable to play Sunday, but he's hoping to see if he will be ready.
"I don't know, we'll have to see," Ramirez said. "It's a bone bruise."
Ramirez was shaken up in the first inning as he helped set up Cantu's 100th RBI of the season.
The National League's leading hitter with a .342 average, Ramirez doubled off Cole Hamels and stole third. He was shaken up but regrouped and scored on Cantu's sacrifice fly ball to right field.
Ramirez stayed in the game, but was replaced by Emilio Bonifacio in the bottom of the fourth. His double snapped an 0-for-11 slump, and essentially secured the first batting title in Marlins history.
After St. Louis' Albert Pujols went 0-for-4 in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday, the slugger's average dipped to .329.
"I don't think I did it myself," Ramirez said of the batting title. "Everybody in here helped. I dedicate it for everybody in here."
The Marlins' season batting average record is .339 by Miguel Cabrera in 2006. Cabrera finished second to Freddy Sanchez of the Pirates in the National League race.
If Ramirez wins the batting title, he will become the fourth NL shortstop to achieve the honor, and first since Dick Groat in 1960. The other winners were Arky Vaughan and Honus Wagner.
Ramirez said he hasn't been following to see who has been approaching him in the batting title race.
"I don't do that, because I think if you look and say, 'Pujols is hitting this, and I'm doing this,' I know I was struggling," Ramirez said. "But I wasn't looking at the computer at what they were hitting. I know I'm going to get out of it. Anyone can have two, three bad games."
In the sixth, Cantu sprained his right ankle while racing back to second base, trying to avoid a double play.
Dan Uggla's liner was caught by Miguel Cairo at second base. Cantu's leg buckled as he hit second base, but he was thrown out. He limped off the field and was replaced by Nick Johnson.
"It's just a mild sprain, nothing big," Cantu said. "I tried to go back, and I don't know what happened. On the replay, it looked really bad. I felt a little pop, too. My foot got stuck, I rolled it. I heard something, and I felt it. I was a little scared, yeah. But it's nothing serious."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
