Toronto Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi was forced to leave Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees with a left upper trap muscle cramp, the team said.
Kikuchi walked off the mound with trainer Jose Ministral in the bottom of the sixth inning after giving up a leadoff walk to DJ LeMahieu. He was massaging the left side of his neck, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reports.
Yimi Garcia came into the game for Kikichi with Aaron Judge up, but was able to get the star slugger to strike out. The Blue Jays were leading the Yankees 4-1 when Kikuchi came out of the game after giving up one run on four hits while recording a walk, and seven strikeouts on 82 pitches.
"Just kind of being careful," manager John Schneider said after a 7-1 win. "He was throwing really, really well. You're at that kind of tricky spot in the order for them with (Aaron) Judge, (Gleyber) Torres and (Giancarlo) Stanton, too. He's been so valuable for us. I think just being extra careful with him at that point. But he's feeling good right now."
There was also some concern when Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was the designated hitter on Tuesday, ran gingerly to first during a groundout in the ninth inning. Schneider said Guerrero was fine.
"He's a little banged up but he's good. He's feeling every game he's been playing right now, but he's good."
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