Marlins All-Star 2B Dee Gordon leaves game with dislocated thumb
— -- MIAMI -- Second baseman Dee Gordon was ruled out of the All-Star Game after dislocating his left thumb Saturday, but said he thinks he avoided serious injury.
Gordon left the Miami Marlins' 14-3 win against Cincinnati in the seventh inning after he was hurt beating out an infield hit with a headfirst slide.
X-rays were negative, and there was no apparent ligament damage, manager Dan Jennings said. A physician popped the thumb back into place, and Gordon said he hopes to avoid the disabled list.
"There is definitely some relief it's not as bad as it could have been," Gordon said. "It's just sore. I actually was moving it around afterward."
The injury means both Marlins chosen as All-Star starters will miss the game. Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton has been sidelined since June 26 because of a broken left hand.
Gordon, who leads the majors with 122 hits and has 33 steals, was voted an All-Star starter for the first time. He tried to shrug off missing the chance to play in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
"It is what it is," he said. "You can't sit there and cry about it."
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will replace Gordon on the NL's active roster, while Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu will replace Gordon in the starting lineup. With both Miami All-Stars sidelined, the Marlins lobbied for NL manager Bruce Bochy to choose shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria as Gordon's roster replacement.
"Fans should have a chance to see a Marlin active," team president David Samson said. "It should have been a consideration. ... I think there should be a rule that every team should have an active player."
Jennings said it was too soon to predict when Gordon might rejoin the Marlins' lineup. The manager had no quarrel with Gordon's headfirst slide.
"When you're running down the line the way Dee does and you sniff a hit, your instincts are going to take over," Jennings said.
Gordon was sidelined two months in 2012 with a right thumb injury that required surgery. He said he knew immediately this injury wasn't as serious.
When does he hope to play again?
"Soon," he said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
