Yankees-Red Sox: Aaron Hicks hurt, pulled from ALDS Game 1

by Felix Pantaleón

Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks appeared to suffer a leg injury in the fourth inning of ALDS Game 1 vs. the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.

UPDATE: Hicks left with a strained right hamstring, the Yankees say.

BOSTON — The Yankees could be in big trouble.

Center fielder Aaron Hicks hurt himself and had to leave in the fourth inning of the American League Division Series Game 1 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday.

Following an 11-pitch at-bat against Chris Sale, which ended in a line-drive single to shallow right-center field, Giancarlo Stanton fouled a ball off.

Yankees trainer Steve Donohue and manager Aaron Boone rushed out to first base, where Hicks was stretching his legs and grimacing. It appeared Hicks was stretching his hamstrings, but it wasn’t clear. Hicks has had left hamstring trouble lately.

Hicks left the game and Brett Gardner took over for him on the bases and in center field.

Hicks slammed his helmet on the dugout steps before walking into the clubhouse.

If Hicks misses time, Gardner is the obvious replacement candidate.

The Yankees could pull Hicks off the ALDS roster if he’s hurt enough, replacing him possibly with Tyler Wade, who is working out in Tampa in case he’s needed. But doing that comes with the problem that rules say the Yankees couldn’t put Hicks back on the AL Championship Series, if they get that far.

We’ll have more information as it comes.

Notes from the Yankees’ media relations department:

ON TO THE NEXT ONE: The Yankees begin their best-of-five ALDS with Game 1 against the Red Sox tonight in Boston… are 1-0 in their 54th postseason in club history.

>> Marks their 20th appearance in the ALDS, their 19th in 24 postseasons since the playoffs were expanded to eight teams in 1995 (for full list, see p. 145 of Yankees’ 2018 Postseason Media Guide or p. 326 of 2018 Media Guide)… are 12-7 in 19 series in the ALDS.

>> Are 12-7 in ALDS Game 1’s, including 6-2 in their last eight… had won four straight before a 4-0 loss in 2017 at Cleveland.

SEEING RED: The ALDS marks only the fourth time that the Yankees will face the Red Sox in a postseason series (won 1999 ALCS, won 2003 ALCS, lost 2004 ALCS)… are 11-8 in 19 postseason games (6-4 at home, 5-4 in Boston).

>> Is the first postseason meeting of 100-win teams prior to the World Series since 1977, when the Yankees defeated Kansas City in the ALCS… is the second consecutive postseason with a matchup of 100-win teams, following the 2017 World Series between Houston and Los Angeles-NL.

>> According to YES Network research, their regular season finale at Fenway Park on Sunday was just the second time in Major League history that two 100-win teams met in the regular season, also the 1909 Pirates and Cubs from 10/3-4/1909 at Chicago’s West Side Grounds.

PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT

Tyler Nunez, a C from Lake Nona HS, is a 6'2 190lb athletic catcher who provides strength with the bat and glove. During BP, Tyler stuck with a middle of the field approach while staying on a line. He impacted the ball well with his compact and direct path, T90EV. He showed off his real athleticism behind the plate by posting a 2.04 pop time while staying around the bag on every throw. He is a good looking athletic uncommitted catcher to keep an eye on.