NEW YORK (AP) -Angels shortstop Macier Izturis was kept out of the starting lineup Saturday, a day after jamming his thumb making a spectacular play in Los Angeles’ 1-0 win over the New York Yankees.
The Angels knew they were already going to be without center fielder Torii Hunter, who traveled home to Pine Bluff, Ark., on Saturday morning to attend the funeral of his grandmother, Edna Cobbs. Cobbs, who helped raise Hunter, passed away last Friday.
Leading off the bottom of the seventh Friday, Robinson Cano lined a shot that glanced off Angels starter Ervin Santana’s hand and appeared headed for center field. But Izturis made a diving stop and then made the throw from his knees to get Cano by a hair. Manager Mike Scioscia came out to check on Santana, who stayed in the game.
Scioscia said Izturis, who has hit safely in 30 of his last 38 games and was hitting .263 for the season, was being held out for further evaluation.
“We’re going to watch it. Right now it’s day to day,” Scioscia said. “Tomorrow we’ll see what capacity he’s at.”
Eric Aybar, who has made just three starts since the All-Star break – the Angels are 12-2 in that span – played short and batted second.
Hunter will rejoin the team Monday in Anaheim. Gary Matthews Jr., the starting center fielder last season, took Hunter’s spot in the outfield and batted eighth.
Hunter had his best month as an Angel in July, hitting .314 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs. He had a go-ahead three-run homer Thursday and hit an RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning to give Los Angeles a 1-0 win Friday.
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