While the Rangers watched a pair of impact players sustain injuries last night, the Cardinals had a top bat of their own removed from the lineup. Matt Holliday left the game in the 6th inning with an injury to his right pinky finger. At this point, Holliday’s status for tonight’s game seven is questionable.
Holliday sustained the injury during the 6th inning of Thursday’s game while being picked off at third base. When he lunged back towards the bag, Holliday had his finger stepped on by Rangers’ third baseman Adrian Beltre. Holliday was ruled out and was ultimately removed from the game.
Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa admitted that at first the club thought Holliday had fractured his finger. It was later revealed by St. Louis’s training staff that Holliday’s finger was in fact not broken, but the outfielder nonetheless experienced bruising and swelling.
This is not Holliday’s first injury of the postseason, or even the first hand wound he has faced. Over the first two rounds of the playoffs, Holliday was forced to miss several games due to tendinitis in his right hand.
Holliday, who’s one of St. Louis’s biggest offensive threats, has struggled this World Series. But, while he’s only collected three hits during the Fall Classic, Holliday has maintained a 2011 playoff line of .294/.419/.412.
When asked after the game, Holliday told reporters that he “should be able to play” tonight.
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