HOUSTON (AP) — Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will miss the rest of the World Series after spraining his right knee in Game 5, an injury that prompted the surprise activation of rookie catcher Korey Lee.
“He wasn’t crying, but he had tears in his eyes,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said of Gurriel. “He showed how badly he wanted to play. We just couldn’t do it and we had to replace him.”
Gurriel collided with Philadelphia first baseman Rhys Hoskins during a drive from third base to home plate on Chas McCormick’s seven-inning grounder during Thursday night’s 3-2 win, kneeing him in head. Trey Mancini batted for Gurriel in the eighth.
“He tried everything,” Baker said. “He came in yesterday, he got treatment. He came in early this morning, he got treatment. He didn’t respond well enough to play. He tried to run. And for a guy who had knee injuries, the hardest thing is to stop and then to round the bases or have lateral movement.
General manager James Click said Gurriel was diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament sprain.
Mancini, 0-for-18 in the postseason and 0-for-6 in the World Series, started at first base and batted seventh in Game 6 on Saturday night. Christian Vázquez was the designated hitter and sixth hitter.
Houston has a 3-2 lead in the World Series. Click said the Astros considered leaving Gurriel on the roster in case he felt better Sunday, when Game 7 would be played.
“But it was obvious from how he moved and from talking to him that he wouldn’t be available today or tomorrow,” Clicks said. “We thought about waiting 24 hours to see if maybe he would be available tomorrow if we end up playing tomorrow. But based on the diagnosis, that wasn’t a possibility.”
Gurriel, 38, hit .347 with two home runs and four RBIs in the postseason, including .316 during the World Series.
“Yuli has been one of our best hitters in the postseason, so obviously it sucks not having him,” McCormick said.
Lee was called into Baker’s office when the 24-year-old arrived at Minute Maid Park about four hours before game time. Lee’s parents, Lisa and Darrin, his brother Kellen, and his girlfriend had flown in for the game.
“I haven’t told them yet,” Lee said. “Hopefully they’ll be surprised when they get here.”
Lee was selected in the first round of the 2019 draft and made his major league debut on July 1. He hit .160 (4-for-25) with four RBIs in 12 games with the Astros from July 1-31 after Jason Castro hurt his left knee. . Lee hit .238 with 25 home runs and 76 RBI in 104 games at Triple-A Sugar Land, hitting three home runs at Las Vegas on August 23.
“It’s amazing,” Lee said. “It is a dream come true.”
