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10/31 19:29 CDT George Springer back in Blue Jays' lineup for World Series Game
6 against Dodgers
George Springer back in Blue Jays' lineup for World Series Game 6 against
Dodgers
By ROB GILLIES
Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) --- George Springer is back in the Toronto Blue Jays' lineup for
Game 6 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night
after missing two games with an injury to his right side.
Leading off as the designated hitter, Springer grounded out to shortstop Mookie
Betts in his first at-bat.
The Blue Jays came in leading the Series 3-2 and were one win from their first
title since 1993.
Before Game 6, Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Springer had "made
significant progress in the last 48 hours."
Bo Bichette, still regaining his fitness after a sprained knee that sidelined
him for seven weeks, was at second base.
Springer strained his right side while taking a swing in Game 3 and immediately
left the game after the first pitch of his plate appearance.
"It wasn't great," Schneider said of Springer's exit. "He's tough. I think any
hitter, when you kind of feel something there, you get a little worried. I
think that kind of scares guys a little bit but I'm really happy that he's
back."
Schneider said the Blue Jays don't believe Springer can aggravate or worsen his
pain by playing.
"That's kind of how we're approaching it," Schneider said. "There's always some
risk, too. There's a difference between being injured and hurting. He's not
injured right now. But yeah, there's always a risk."
Springer worked out in the batting cage and again on the field before Game 5.
He was preparing to pinch run for Bichette in the ninth inning, but Bichette
grounded out.
"He was pretty close two days ago," Schneider said of Springer. "It was just
trying to balance another day and a half of rest or would he be all right. If
we needed him, he was going to come into the game in some capacity. He's a
gamer, man. Ready to go."
Springer has the second-most leadoff homers in major league history with 63,
trailing only Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson's 81.
Springer hit a three-run homer in Game 7 of the American League Championship
Series against Seattle on Oct. 20, playing a major role in sending the Blue
Jays to their first World Series since 1993.
That came three days after he was struck on the right kneecap by a 95.6 mph
pitch from Seattle's Bryan Woo during the ALCS, forcing him out of Game 5.
Springer returned in Game 6.
Springer was the World Series MVP for the Houston Astros in 2017, when he tied
a Series record by hitting five homers against the Dodgers. Los Angeles fans
have booed him at Dodger Stadium since that Astros title was later tainted by
the revelation of their illegal sign stealing.
___
Associated Press freelancer writer Ian Harrison contributed to this report.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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