Washington Nationals' catcher Sandy Leon left his first career major league game in the top of the fourth inning after sustaining a leg injury in a collision with San Diego's Chase Headley. Orlando Hudson took a Ross Detwiler pitch the other way to right center, where centerfielder Rick Ankiel cut it off. Ankiel, who was on the run, planted and hit the cut-off man Danny Espinosa at second base. The relay from Espinosa was low and short-hopped as Leon tried to corral it while blocking the plate.
Headley barreled into the catcher and his right leg got twisted underneath him as his body corked back across the batter's box. He got up and tried to walk it off but he immediately went down along the first base line. He had to be helped off to the locker room by Randy Knorr and Nationals trainer Mike McGowan. He could not put any weight on his right leg as he went to the clubhouse.
Leon was up filling the roster spot of Wilson Ramos, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL he sustained on Saturday in Cincinnati. He was called up from AA Harrisburg but was on the field just over an hour before being injured. Jesus Flores came on to replace the injured Leon, with Bryce Harper now serving as the emergency catcher.
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