Diamondbacks CF Ketel Marte exits vs. Marlins with back stiffness
Sep 17, 2019, 8:31 PM | Updated: 11:05 pm
Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds third base to score against the Miami Marlins in the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 17, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Ketel Marte began Tuesday showing off his new blonde braids before his Arizona Diamondbacks faced the Miami Marlins. He left on a darker note, during the middle of the game with what the team called back stiffness.
The D-backs announced before the start of the fifth inning that left fielder Tim Locastro had taken Marte’s spot in center field and Josh Rojas had entered the game in left field.
Replays of Marte’s home plate slide in the bottom of the third inning showed the team’s MVP grabbing at his back and walking gingerly to the dugout after tying the game, 1-1.
Marte was 2-for-2 with a run scored when he exited before the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ketel Marte has been removed from tonight's game due to back stiffness, per @Dbacks. pic.twitter.com/c9TPplbgLc
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) September 18, 2019
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He remained in the game after his slide but was not tested in center field during the Marlins’ scoreless fourth frame.
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after the game that Marte will get an MRI on Wednesday and will not be in the lineup for the day game.
Marte, who has played mostly in center field as well as second base this season, is batting .326 (fifth in MLB) with 32 home runs and 185 hits (third in MLB) on the season.
