Machado to have MRI; season over
Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado's season is over after suffering a left-knee injury in Monday's loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
What remains to be determined is how the injury will affect Machado next season.
The 21-year-old Machado was injured while beating out a ground ball for an infield single in the seventh inning. His knee appeared to buckle as he hit first base and he immediately fell to the ground, writing in pain. He spent several minutes on the ground before being wheeled out on a stretcher.
An X-ray was taken at the stadium and the team said he will have an MRI on Tuesday morning in Baltimore.
Because of a "glitch," medical personnel were unable to read the X-ray at Tropicana Field, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I'm sure we won't get a full diagnosis until we get the MRI back in Baltimore tomorrow morning," Showalter told the Baltimore Sun.
Machado has played in every game this season -- 156 -- and every game since being recalled from the minors in August 2012.
Coming into Monday's game, Machado was batting .282 with 14 home runs and a league-leading 51 doubles. His 663 at-bats lead the league as does his 706 plate appearances.
Machado was not the only Baltimore player injured seriously in Monday's game.
Orioles second baseman Alexi Casilla also had to leave after colliding with right fielder Nick Markakis while attempting to make a diving catch in the seventh inning.
Casilla was motionless on the outfield turf after the collision.
"I'm not a doctor or anything, but when he was out there I could have sworn he was knocked out," Markakis told the Sun. "It was just bang-bang. Me coming full speed. Him coming full speed. It was like trying to stop a train on a dime. It's tough. I'm just glad he is OK. He got banged up a little bit, but when it's all said and done, if he's OK, that's all that really matters."
Casilla remained in the game until the end of the inning. He was then taken to a local hospital with concussion symptoms. According to team officials, Casilla will have a CT scan before it is determined when he will return to Baltimore.
