ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout was removed from Tuesday night’s 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox with left groin tightness.
The three-time MVP grimaced in the third inning while running to first base after hitting a double off Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock. Trout easily reached second but not at full speed. He tried to stretch out the leg once he got there but came out of the game after talking with trainers.
Trout said after the game that he felt a little sore but wasn’t overly alarmed. There was no scan or MRI done after Trout left the game.
“Coming out of the box, I didn’t feel it and then I felt like a little cramp. Then I got to second base and a little achy and tried to be smart about it. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow,” Trout said. “At least it isn’t nothing crazy.”
Trout was injured hours after the Angels fired manager Joe Maddon with the club mired in a 12-game losing streak. The Angels’ 13th straight loss Tuesday night matched the franchise record, set in 1988-89. Trout endured a career-worst 0-for-26 drought during the skid but ended the slump with a single Monday night.
Trout hit a two-run homer to center in the first inning Tuesday. It was the first time he had multiple hits in a game since May 28 at home against the Toronto Blue Jays. He is batting .284 and is tied for third in the American League with 14 home runs.
Trout missed the final 119 games of last season with a left calf strain.
Interim manager Phil Nevin was cautiously optimistic about Trout’s latest ailment.
“It was an easy decision to get him out of the game. He had two great at-bats. It was good to see him swing the bat like that and hopefully this isn’t anything too serious,” Nevin said. “We’ve got to reevaluate tomorrow because these things can act funny right away. Tomorrow is really the gauge for us.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.