NEW YORK — Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was held out of the New York Yankees starting lineup on Wednesday with a sore hip and might not be available to pinch hit.
Ellsbury injured his hip trying to make a diving catch on a fly ball by Houston Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus. Ellsbury did not make the catch and it started a five-run first inning.
After missing the fly ball, manager Joe Girardi said he was not running well over the remainder of a 15-1 loss.
“There was some swelling in it last night,” Girardi said before Wednesday’s game. “We haven’t done any tests. I hope (to have him back Friday) but I can’t tell you for sure.”
Ellsbury has missed 277 games over the last five seasons, including 43 earlier this season with a sprained right knee.
Ellsbury, in the second-year of a seven-year contract with the Yankees, is batting .278 in 78 games this season.
