WASHINGTON -- Shortly after the Cardinals notched a series win over the Nationals on Wednesday, Yadier Molina strode by manager Mike Shildt in the visitors clubhouse at Nationals Park. Molina left St. Louis' 7-6 victory in the eighth inning after his left hamstring tightened up while he was attempting to steal second base.
"I'll be fine," Molina told his skipper, who classified the injury as "minor."
"What that means, we'll clearly figure that out," said Shildt, who added that Molina would be re-evaluated before the Cardinals start a three-game series in Detroit on Friday. "But this is one tough hombre.
"This is a guy who is going to be a wounded warrior. We'll get him back out there when he's cleared to go."
Molina's hamstring "grabbed" him while sliding into second base in the eighth inning after he tried to catch the Nats sleeping by taking off from first in a one-run game. Molina is now 4-for-7 in stolen-base attempts this season. He's stolen 60 bags in 97 attempts over his 15-year career.
"He's competing out there. He saw something," Shildt said. "Probably without the little grab on it, he would've been safe."
Francisco Pena replaced Molina on Wednesday, and he'd likely see the bulk of the behind-the-plate duties should Molina be sidelined. The Cardinals also have Carson Kelly, who has appeared in two games since being recalled at the beginning of September.