Damon leaves Game 6 with strained calf

NEW YORK (AP)—Johnny Damon(notes) limped across home plate with the Yankees fourth run of the night—in what may be his final act with New York.

Damon strained his right calf in the third inning of the Yankees’ 7-3 World Series-clinching win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 on Wednesday night and was taken out of the game.

“I’ve got plenty of time for it to heal now,” said Damon, who turned 36 as the postgame celebration went into Thursday.

Damon was in the final year of a four-year contract with the Yankees and the team will likely only want to bring back Damon or Hideki Matsui(notes), the Series MVP whose four-year deal is also up.

Damon walked with one out in the third and scored from second base on Matsui’s two-run single. Damon appeared to be favoring his leg as he ran down the third-base line and crossed the plate standing up to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead over Philadelphia.

Jerry Hairston Jr.(notes) took Damon’s place in left field for the fourth inning.

Manager Joe Girardi told Fox during a fourth-inning interview that Damon “felt his calf a little bit” on Matsui’s foul ball down the right-field line earlier in the at-bat, “and when he scored it got worse.”

Damon struck out in his first at-bat.

4 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. jeffrey
    4. Posted by jeffrey Thu Nov 5 10:35am EST

    Report Abuse

    Johnny had a great series. That double steal was total heads up. Johnny scored the winning run in game 4 &6. Way to go Johnny. I put a Johnny autographed Red Sox hat on ebay after that. Check it out. Good Luck in the off season.
  2. star
    3. Posted by star Thu Nov 5 9:40am EST

    Report Abuse

    Johnny still has it -- He is a great player -- loved him when was with the Redsox. And I like him now. Sorry about your leg John. Hope it heals quickly.
  3. Mae
    2. Posted by Mae Thu Nov 5 3:14am EST

    Report Abuse

    Love you, Johnny. Get well and here's praying you return to the Yankees for many seasons more. The Yanks wouldn't be the same without you in the lineup. Thanks for great viewing pleasure in 2009 and congratulations on this very satisfying win!
  4. Strawberry Fields
    1. Posted by Strawberry Fields Thu Nov 5 12:25am EST

    Report Abuse

    Johnny Damon you are awesome, I love you, but the way you ran out on the field at the end of the game? You got serious air and hangtime jumping into the crowd of celebrating Yankees. Man if I could do that with a hurt leg! Just teasing Johnny, hope you are reading this, you definitely were MVP of game 4, even though tonight was all about Hideki. Your hugest fan ktownva@yahoo.com
Sign in to post a comment, or sign up for a free account

Video Spotlight