Yahoo Sports 
Geovany Soto leaves wild-card game with thumb injury after play at the plate
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oakland A's catcher Geovany Soto left the game with what the team said was a left thumb injury after a play at the plate with the Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer in the first inning.
Hosmer attempted to score after A's pitcher Jon Lester picked off Billy Butler at first base. As Butler got into a rundown, Hosmer broke for home and was tagged for the third out of the inning.
The tag from Soto was high up on Hosmer's body and Soto's glove ricocheted off Hosmer.
Soto batted in the top of the second inning and struck out looking. He was replaced by Derek Norris behind the plate. Soto, who was acquired from the Rangers in August, hit .262 with a .354 on-base percentage and a .357 slugging percentage in 49 plate appearances with the A's.
His absence may hurt the A's most defensively. The Royals have the most stolen bases in baseball, and Soto caught nine of 17 baserunners stealing against the A's this year. Norris has thrown out 12 in 72 stolen base attempts against him. Norris also had never caught Jon Lester, who the A's acquired before the trade deadline from the Boston Red Sox.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
