Pirates' Kendall Breaks Right Ankle
.c The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall was carried off the field on a stretcher Sunday with a fractured right ankle after stumbling over first base unsuccessfully trying to beat out a bunt.
The Pirates had been held hitless for 4 1-3 innings by Milwaukee's Steve Woodard when Kendall put down a bunt along the third-base line.
As he neared first base, Kendall's right foot awkwardly struck the right side of the bag. He took five or six more strides before collapsing several feet behind the bag.
As Kendall was carried off on a stretcher, obviously in pain, Pirates trainer Kent Biggerstaff carefully supported his right ankle. A few minutes later, the Pirates described the injury as both a fractured and dislocated ankle.
A serious injury to their most productive everyday player is a significant loss to the surprising Pirates, who began the day in third place in the NL Central with a 40-39 record.
Kendall is batting .332 with eight homers and 41 RBIs and seemed to be a lock for his third All-Star game appearance in his four major league seasons. The NL All-Star team will be announced Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kendall has started 74 of the Pirates' 80 games and his backup, Keith Osik, has only 38 at-bats all season.
After Kendall left the field, Warren Morris broke up Woodard's no-hit bid with a double.
