BOSTON -- Center fielder Delino DeShields exited during the sixth inning of the Rangers' 4-2 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday night, but he appears to have avoided an injury to the neck and shoulder area.
Eduardo Nunez hit a short fly to the outfield that DeShields and left fielder Joey Gallo bolted toward. But as the two outfielders worked to avoid a collision, DeShields fell and his neck jerked back. Right fielder Nomar Mazara alertly finished the play, throwing Nunez out at second base attempting to stretch a single. Rangers manager Jeff Banister and a medical trainer came out to check on DeShields, who walked off the field to be further evaluated.
"I'm not really sore, just had a little headache, just came off for precautionary reasons," DeShields said after the game. "Told them I was good, but something like that happens, they just want to make sure you're straight up top, and everything was cool."
DeShields said he hit his head on the fall, but that compared to concussions from his days playing football, this was minor. He said medical staff asked him questions after and decided to take him out to be safe.
Ronald Guzman entered the game at first base and Ryan Rua moved to center field.
"I just felt like, at the time, make a decision, take him out, not going to take any chances," Banister said. "We have the players on the bench. I thought Rua did a good job in center field, and I felt like getting Guzman in there kind of lined our lineup a little bit."
DeShields said he expects to be ready by Friday, when the Rangers open a series against the Orioles.
"Just how he was feeling, as far as his neck and his upper back area, I just didn't feel it was a need to push the envelope," Banister said. "Delino's too important to us to risk his health any further."