NEW YORK (AP) – Yankees catcher Jose Molina left Thursday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays before the sixth inning with a strained left quadriceps.

Molina doubled in the fourth inning and hurt himself trying to score on a double by Johnny Damon. He was replaced in the lineup by youngster Francisco Cervelli.

The team said Molina would have an MRI later in the evening.

New York is already missing All-Star catcher Jorge Posada, who went on the disabled list after hurting his right hamstring sliding during Monday night’s loss against the Red Sox. It was the same hamstring Posada hurt earlier in the season.

Molina, who was pressed into everyday duty last season when Posada was out with a shoulder injury, was hitting .273 with a homer and five RBIs.


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