PITTSBURGH (AP) -Los Angeles Dodgers closer Takashi Saito was pulled from the ninth inning of Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh with a tight left hamstring, but the problem is not believed to be serious.
After getting the Pirates’ Jose Bautista to swing and miss on a high fastball that made the count 2-2 with one out Saito walked off the back of the mound in apparent discomfort and began talking to second baseman Jeff Kent and shortstop Rafael Furcal.
Following a brief conversation with a trainer, Saito left and was replaced by Joe Beimel. The left-hander retired Bautista on a flyball before getting Jose Castillo to bounce out to the mound and complete the Dodgers’ 5-4 victory.
“He’s mature enough to let us know as soon as something like that happens,” manager Grady Little said. “I don’t know how serious it is, but we feel like he informed us in time (to prevent a severe injury). We’ll look at it tomorrow and see how it is, but it’s a plus he told us that quickly.”
Saito has been one of the NL’s top closers, converting all 16 save opportunities this season and 26 in a row dating to last season.
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