Renteria Hobbled, May Miss Week Or More
Online Athens
April 16, 2006
ATLANTA - Already minus third baseman Chipper Jones in the lineup, it looks like the Braves will be without shortstop Edgar Renteria for at least the next week, which is crucial considering tonight begins a three-game series against the division-leading New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
While Jones is still nursing a sprained right knee and ankle, Renteria had to leave Saturday's 2-0 win against San Diego after the sixth inning because of a strained left side.
Renteria missed Sunday afternoon's game and isn't expected back for perhaps the rest of the week, Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
"We'll give him a few more days and see," Cox said. "Six days or so. But that may be wishful."
Renteria will be re-evaluated Tuesday, team trainer Jeff Porter said. There's still a possibility he might have to join Jones on the disabled list.
"I hope not," Renteria said Sunday morning. "We'll see in a couple of days."
Renteria suffered a similar injury during spring training. He missed six days then after he jumped out of the way of a pitch in the batting cage.
The most recent injury is more concerning, Porter said, because Renteria did it swinging.
Although it appeared he injured it later, Renteria said he tweaked the muscle in his first at-bat, when he singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 12 games, the longest in the majors.
Renteria played through it, but the pain became too much to bear after he struck out swinging to end the sixth.
The fact that he is hitting .365 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 52 at-bats doesn't make the timing of the injury any better.
"Anytime's a bad time," Renteria said. "You want to play every day."
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