Boston's Middlebrooks leaves game with hand injury

Cleveland, OH – Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks was forced to leave Friday's game after getting hit in the right wrist with a pitch.

Middlebrooks was facing Cleveland reliever Esmil Rogers in the ninth inning when an inside fastball struck Middlebrooks on the right wrist.

He was looked at by a trainer before being replaced by pinch-runner Nick Punto.

Middlebrooks, 23, entered the game batting .292 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI through 74 games in his rookie season with Boston.