Washington Nationals' second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera walked the first time up against San Francisco Giants' righty Ryan Vogelsong on Sunday, drove in a run with a double the second time up and singled in the sixth before scoring on a single by Nats' catcher Jose Lobaton.
In his final at bat of the game, however, the 28-year-old infielder acquired from Cleveland at the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline, felt something in his side as he grounded out to short.
Danny Espinosa, who hit for Drew Storen that inning, took over for Cabrera in the field in the top of the eighth, and later hit a two-run home run as the Nationals ran away with the series finale.
After the game, Nats' skipper Matt Williams told reporters why Cabrera was lifted.
"He's got a little tightness in his side on the swing," Williams explained. "So, right now he's day-to-day, we'll see how he is tomorrow. But we didn't want to take any chances in that situation. So got him out of the game, got Danny in there and good for Danny too, he got a couple of hits, hit a homer.
"We'll have to see how Asdrubal is when he wakes up tomorrow and we get him to the ballpark. But a little bit of tightness, so we just want to be cautious in that regard."
Williams pointed to his own right side in describing where exactly Cabrera felt the tightness.
"It was just in his right side," he said. "We don't know the severity of it. We don't know exactly. Let the docs take a look at him and we'll have more information tomorrow."
Apparently, when Cabrera woke up the side was still an issue.
Though there was no update from the Nationals when the lineup for tonight's game in Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park was announced, Cabrera's name was missing and Danny Espinosa's was listed as the starting second baseman.
More info on Cabrera when/if it's available...
• UPDATE:
Asdrubal Cabrera says right side muscle feels "much better" today. Will go through regular pregame routine, thinks he could play if needed.
— Mark Zuckerman (@ZuckermanCSN) August 25, 2014
• Here's the Nationals' lineup that will take on the Phillies and A.J. Burnett tonight in CBP:
#Nats lineup at PHI: Span CF, Rendon 3B, Werth RF, LaRoche 1B, Desmond SS, Harper LF, Ramos C, Espinosa 2B, Roark RHP pic.twitter.com/pa2YuVDGm4
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 25, 2014
In 20 games since Cabrera was acquired from the Indians in exchange for infielder/outfielder Zach Walters, the veteran of 10 major league seasons has put up a .264/.365/.444 line with five doubles, a triple and two home runs in 85 plate appearances.