Misstep lands Estrada on DL
One moment Marco Estrada was on top of the world, enjoying a mountain of first-inning run support Wednesday afternoon and even driving in the last two runs of the six-run explosion himself with a rare feat for a starting pitcher — a two-out double.
The next instant, the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander, who once played at Glendale Community College, was pulling up lame rounding first base, on his way out of the game and ultimately to the 15-day disabled list.
Estrada was placed on the DL Thursday with a right quadriceps strain suffered while running the bases, according to a press release issued by the Brewers, who won Wednesday’s home game over the San Francisco Giants, 8-5.
“I almost wish I would have struck out on that,” Estrada told mlb.com of his fateful hit after leaving the game in the first inning.
According to mlb.com, Brewers trainers initially thought Estrada had injured his right hip flexor, but Estrada maintained he heard a “pop” in his quad.
Estrada had become a fixture in the Brewers’ rotation since being taken out of the bullpen on April 21, starting six games and going 0-3 with his most recent outing prior to Wednesday an 11-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Friday in which he allowed four runs on six hits over five innings to take the loss.
Right-hander Mike McClendon will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Friday to take Estrada’s spot in the rotation, the Brewers stated in the press release.
Estrada is 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 appearances on the season.
He joins fellow local major leaguers Brandon McCarthy, a Glendale native for the Oakland A’s battling a shoulder strain, and Freddy Sanchez, another former Vaquero playing for the Giants dealing with back and should ailments, on the disabled list.