CLEVELAND — White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal was helped off the field with an injured left knee after an unsuccessful attempt to score from second on Elvis Andrus’ single in the seventh inning of the team’s 2-0 victory Saturday night.
Grandal, one of the slowest runners in the game, was on crutches after the game and will be evaluated further. The Sox are bringing catcher Carlos Perez from Triple-A Charlotte to Cleveland for Sunday’s series finale to back up Seby Zavala.
Grandal, who was walking on crutches after the game, was waved home by third base coach Joe McEwing on Andrus’ first hit in a Sox uniform. Center fielder Myles Straw’s throw home was off the mark but catcher Luke Maile lunged on the infield side of the third base line to tag Grandal, who was hurt trying to avoid the tag.
Grandal lay on the dirt clutching his left knee.
“It’s hard [to assess the injury] because he had it twisted,” manager Tony La Russa said after the game. “But the way [trainer] James [Kruk] described it, to be determined. Just wait and see.”
There were no outs when Grandal was waved home by McEwing.
La Russa said he did consider using a pinch runner for Grandal after he singled leading off the inning.
“No. The way he’s working with [Johnny] Cueto, no chance,” La Russa said. “No chance. Plus we had to announce to Romy [Gonzalez] that he’s the backup catcher once Zavala is in the game. You can’t do that. Mostly because they’re working well together.”
Andrus advanced to second on the throw home, stole third and scored on Josh Harrison’s short fly ball when right fielder Will Benson’s throw bounced off Maile’s helmet. Harrison did not attempt to tag but alertly dashed home when the ball skipped away, giving the Sox a 2-0 lead.
Grandal, who is having one of his worst seasons with a .203/.307/.259 hitting line with three homers in 79 games, singled against Shane Bieber and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Zavala, one of two Sox catchers on the 40-man roster with Grandal, took over behind the plate.
