Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax leaves after taking line drive off lower back

Tampa Bay starter Griffin Jax leaves after taking line drive off lower back | iNFOnews.ca
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays starter Griffin Jax took a line drive from Philadelphia’s Trea Turner off his lower back and left the game after three innings on Saturday night.

The Phillies had a runner on second and two outs when Turner drilled a 104-mph line drive off Jax. The ball ricocheted to shortstop Taylor Walls, who threw out Turner for the third out of the inning.

Jax grabbed at his lower back then hunched over in pain before he walked off the mound. He did not return in the fourth inning with the AL East champion Rays leading 3-0.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said during a dugout interview that the ball hit Jax in the spine.

“It’s going to hurt a little bit,” Cash said.

Jax struck out one, allowed two hits and will finish the season 8-10 with a 3.53 ERA.

Steven Matz pitched the fourth inning.

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