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By Jon Vankin
Contributing Sports Writer
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To say the New York Yankees have been plagued by injuries this season would be an understatement.
From the devastating loss of 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery, to slugger Giancarlo Stanton's nagging elbow pain, to veteran third baseman D.J. Lemahieu's repeated setbacks as he struggles to return from a calf strain — and several others — it may seem like a miracle that after the first full calendar month of the season came to a close Wednesday, the Bronx Bombers were still in first place.
The defending American League pennant winners entered a much-needed off-day Thursday at 18-13, 1 1/2 games ahead of the 17-15 Boston Red Sox in the AL East after both teams took losses on Wednesday.
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But it isn't a miracle for the Yankees — it's offense.
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The Yankees have scored 5.71 runs per game, second only to the Chicago Cubs in MLB, and 0.59 better than the Red Sox, who are currently second in the AL.
The prolific Yankees offense was on full display in Baltimore against the Orioles on Tuesday, when they blasted four home runs in their first five at-bats. It was the second time already this season the Bombers have hit four bombs in the first inning.
The bad news for New York was that the injury bug was also on display in that same inning. The next Yankee batter after Cody Bellinger belted the fourth homer was second baseman Jazz Chisolm Jr., who fouled off the first pitch, took another one, then stepped out of the box in obvious discomfort, twisting from side to side as if to loosen his muscles.
Chisolm managed to get back in the batter's box and smack a double, reaching third on an outfield error. Then manager Aaron Boone pulled him from the game.
Chisolm, playing his first full season with the Yankees, who acquired him at the trade deadline last year, sat out Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Orioles. According to a report by Greg Joyce of the New York Post, the 27-year-old was scheduled for an MRI on Thursday.
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The Yankees initially characterized Chisolm's malady as "right flank discomfort," a description that seemed to amuse members of the media. But Boone and Chisolm later clarified that the Nassau, Bahamas, native had suffered an injury to his right oblique muscle.
Though Chisolm claimed he was "fine," Boone was more concerned for his player, commenting, "I don't know about that. We'll see what we have."
The extent of Chisolm's injury remains unclear, pending the results of medical imaging.
After being signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of the Bahamas in 2015, Chisolm was traded to the Miami Marlins four years later for pitcher Zac Gallen.
He made his MLB debut in September of the COVID-shortened 2020 season, becoming only the eighth-ever Bahamian MLB player. Chisolm was named a National League All-Star in 2002, and signed a one-year contract for $5.85 million with the Yankees prior to this season.
Lucius Fox of the Washington Nationals became the ninth Bahamian big leaguer when he debuted in 2022. But Fox was quickly returned to the minor leagues and has not appeared in a game since 2023.
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