Dodgers' Ramirez, Tigers' Martinez shrug off injuries
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez and Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez planned to play through injuries on Wednesday in their respective league championship series.
Ramirez left Game 4 of the National League Championship Series after six innings on Tuesday night when he was bothered by pain from a fractured rib in his left side. He received treatment that included ice, steam and ultrasound therapy in preparation for his start in Game 5 of the series in Los Angeles.
Martinez tweaked his left quadriceps while running to first base after a single in the ninth inning of Game 3 against the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series on Tuesday in Detroit. He left the Tigers' 1-0 loss for a pinch runner.
But Martinez, who went 2-for-4 in Game 3 and is 13-for-31 in the playoffs, said it's no big deal. "Just a little cramp, but that was it," he said after the game. "Anyway, I was going to get a pinch runner, so not a big deal."
The Tigers faced a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-seven ALCS.
Ramirez said the Dodgers' medical staff tried to take him out of the game earlier.
"I said I wanted to stay in. But I got to the point that I had to come in and get treatment," he said.
"It's going to be hard. I'm going to try to play (Wednesday)."
The Dodgers trailed 3-1 in the best-of-seven series after losing 4-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4. Ramirez went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.
"He's feeling a little something," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "I think we're seeing it at the plate. It looks for me a little bit backsided. When guys can really hit, they're going to use that front side. It looks like he's kind of favoring, going to that back side."
