Indians' Yan Gomes suffers shoulder injury

ByABC News
July 17, 2016, 4:40 PM

— -- Cleveland Indians catcher Yan Gomes left Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins because of a right shoulder injury.

Gomes suffered the injury when he fell and landed awkwardly on his shoulder while running to first base. Gomes' right arm was put in a sling, and he was carted off the field.

He stepped awkwardly on first base as he tried to avoid the swipe tag of first baseman Kennys Vargas, who was pulled off the bag on the throw from Eduardo Nunez.

Gomes told reporters after the Indians' 6-1 victory that he believes he has a separated shoulder. The Indians announced that Gomes would have his injury evaluated further on Monday in Cleveland but that he is headed to the disabled list.

On Saturday, the Indians held what second baseman Jason Kipnis described as a  "sacrificial ceremony" in the clubhouse before their game against the Twins in Minneapolis, with the hope of helping Gomes end his season-long slump. They took a page from the movie "Major League," including a chicken offering to the baseball gods.  

"I don't think it worked," catcher Chris Gimenez said of the ceremony.

Gimenez replaced Gomes behind the plate Sunday and hit a two-run single in the victory.

Before the injury, Gomes was 1-for-2 Sunday to raise his average this season to .165.

Gomes' hit, a double, snapped an 0-for-27 hitless streak. The ball hit the foot of Minnesota starter Kyle Gibson and trickled into the outfield through a hole at shortstop, allowing Gomes to reach second base.

"I thought the sacrifice was supposed to be a good thing," Gomes told reporters Sunday. "It got me a hit, though. We got a win. That's plenty." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.