MINNEAPOLIS — Nicky Lopez is starting at second base and batting sixth for the Texas Rangers in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Minnesota Twins. He left Saturday’s 6-2 win at Target Field with a left ankle and heel injury.
Texas needs a win and a Houston Astros loss to the Athletics to win the American League West, with first pitch set for 2:10 p.m. CT.
How Nicky Lopez Got Hurt On First Base
Lopez attempted a bunt single in the third inning Saturday and appeared to step on the first-base bag awkwardly. He said his knee hyperextended when he stepped on it, which caused his ankle to hit the bag the way it did.
“When you hit first base, you’re a little more worried than anything,” Lopez said. “That’s where I was. I rarely come out of baseball games. I really don’t. I take pride in it. I have a clean track record, knock on wood. This one hurt a little bit. But better to get off your feet. Hopefully, I’ll be back in there tomorrow.”
Lopez, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, and head trainer Matt Lucero met briefly between innings, and Lopez initially stayed in the game. Cody Freeman replaced him in the bottom of the fourth and took over at third base, with Ezequiel Durán sliding from third to second.
Schumaker said the account he received was the same one Lopez gave, and that the switch came down to the defense over the final innings.
“He says he feels better as the night has progressed, but that’s kind of all I know,” Schumaker said. “I just know that he had a little bit of trouble with the first step, so just needed to shore up the defense just to make sure that we completed that game, and hopefully he’ll be back in there tomorrow.”
Nicky Lopez Started The Rangers’ Four-Run Second Inning
Before the injury, Lopez started the rally that decided Saturday’s game. After Twins starter Bailey Ober struck out the first two batters of the second inning, Lopez doubled. He scored on a bloop single by Danny Jansen, and three straight doubles followed to make it 4-1.
When Schumaker named the players who stayed on the field Saturday while banged up, Lopez was on the list along with Nathan Eovaldi and Brandon Nimmo.
“All started with Evo, and what he provided was just insane,” Schumaker said. “And then you add Nimmo to that, and then you add Lopez to that, and then a couple others that weren’t feeling great and posted.”
Since signing with Texas on May 27, Lopez has hit .274/.327/.317 in 95 games, playing mostly second base (67 games) and shortstop (28 games). He has taken on a bigger infield role since third baseman Josh Jung went on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a broken right hand. With Jung out, Durán moved to third and Lopez took second.
