BOSTON -- What initially just looked like a bad throw by Jeimer Candelario turned out to be something a bit more after the Tigers' third baseman was removed from the 6-0 loss to the Red Sox in the bottom of the fourth inning with a jammed right middle finger.
X-rays were negative, and Candelario is day-to-day.
Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez hit a scorching grounder down to third to lead off the frame, but Candelario, who had to take a step back to field it cleanly, threw far left of Jose Cabrera at first base, despite having ample time to complete the play.
"He took [the ball] right off the hand -- I think it was the middle finger -- and he couldn't feel anything," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He couldn't feel the ball. We just had to go get him checked out. Everything came out good. We'll just go day-to-day."
Following the error, which earned the Red Sox designated hitter second base, the Tigers' third baseman squatted at his position and shook his right hand, leading the team trainer and manager Ron Gardenhire to come out and check on him.
After a brief conversation, Candelario, who has made 49 appearances at third this season for Detroit, was removed from the game and replaced by Ronny Rodriguez, who was making only his second appearance at the position this season.
"He's OK," Gardenhire said. "He's frustrated. He didn't want to be in [the clubhouse], he wanted to be back out there. When you can't throw the ball, you've got to get him out. We'll just go day-to-day. It's part of baseball. He got his hand in there a little quick, and it took a funny little hop and got him right on the end of the hand."