Jays' Springer exits after being hit in knee by pitch

SEATTLE -- Toronto's George Springer, 1 of the astir prolific hitters successful postseason history, near Friday's Game 5 of the American League Championship Series aft getting deed by a transportation connected his close kneecap successful the apical of the seventh inning.

Springer, the designated hitter for the Blue Jays, sprawled connected the ungraded for a mates of minutes aft Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo deed him with a 1-1 sinker that kept riding successful and deed Springer.

Springer, who has been heartily booed each bid by Mariners fans, was booed again arsenic helium limped to archetypal base, wherever Joey Loperfido replaced him arsenic the pinch runner.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that Springer wanted to enactment successful the crippled but was successful excessively overmuch symptom and discomfort, and the squad elected to play it safe.

According to Rosenthal, Springer needed assistance getting down the dugout steps and the steps into the visitors' clubhouse.

Earlier successful the game, Springer deed a score-tying RBI treble disconnected Matt Brash, his 42nd vocation extra-base deed successful the postseason, breaking a necktie with David Ortiz for 5th astir each time.

It was his sixth consecutive crippled with an extra-base deed successful the playoffs, 1 distant from tying the grounds shared by Bryce Harper (2022), Carlos Beltran (2004) and Devon White (1993).

The Blue Jays lost 6-2 to autumn down 3-2 successful the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is Sunday.