Sergachev back from leg injury in time for Game 4
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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev made a stunning return to the lineup as his club looked to avoid elimination in Game 4 of its first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
Sergachev had been out since fracturing the tibia and fibula in his left leg on Feb. 7. The injury was so bad that Lightning coach Jon Cooper had said the Lightning would need to “go far” in the postseason to see Sergachev back in. But Tampa’s top defenseman was apparently cleared for action just 80 days following that break to be a last-minute addition to the Lightning’s starters on Saturday.
Having Sergachev available is exactly the boost Tampa could be looking for in a must-win game. The Lightning would be swept from the postseason with another loss to the Panthers, and Tampa Bay has struggled containing Florida’s top skaters throughout the series. Even if Sergachev isn’t at his best, he can have a positive impact on Tampa Bay’s defensive effort as they try to slow down Matthew Tkachuk (three goals in three games) and Carter Verhaeghe (five points).
Tampa Bay spent most of the regular season without Sergachev available in a difficult year health-wise for the blueliner. Prior to breaking his leg, Sergachev had missed 17 games in the fall because of another lower-body injury. He skated in just 34 tilts total, with two goals and 17 assists.
Whatever Sergachev can offer to Tampa Bay now might swing some momentum back in their favor. The recent two-time Stanley Cup champions haven’t tapped into their scoring depth or found enough ways to beat Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, their power play has been misfiring (at 16.7%) and the Lightning are tied for the second-most goals against in the postseason (11) going into Game 4.
That latter statistic is where Sergachev can do the most to help Tampa and give the Lightning a chance to extend their season another game.
TORONTO — Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez was back in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, two days after the third baseman left in the third inning because of a mild right ankle sprain.
The six-time All-Star was injured when he stumbled and fell while crossing first base on an infield single. Ramirez went down after being struck in the back by a throw from Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt.
Ramirez was batting third Sunday against right-hander Bowden Francis.
Ramírez sat out Saturday when Cleveland beat Toronto 5-3. He went 2 for 2 before departing Friday, boosting his average to .274. He has five home runs and 15 RBIs in 31 games.
In last Thursday’s 4-3 victory over Minnesota, Ramirez became the first primary third baseman to reach 250 homers and 250 stolen bases.
The Miami Marlins activated catcher Nick Fortes from the 10-day injured list Sunday morning. To make room for him on the active roster, starting second baseman Otto Lopez was placed on the 10-day injured list.
Fortes, the Marlins’ Opening Day catcher, posted six hits in 20 at-bats with two doubles, one triple and one RBI in seven appearances before going on the IL on April 10 with an injured left oblique muscle. The 28-year-old missed 20 games as the Marlins went 7-13 without him. To prepare for Sunday’s return, he rehabbed for two games at Triple-A Jacksonville and went 0-for-6.
Fortes figures to split time with 23-year-old rookie catcher Agustin Ramirez, who has delivered a .256/.293/.615 slash line with three homers and five RBIs in 10 games during his first stint in the bigs.
The 26-year-old Lopez hits the injured list, retroactive to Saturday, with a sprained right ankle. Lopez started the season hot with a .400 average to go with two homers, six RBIs and one stolen base during five games in March. Since then, he has batted .191 (17-for-89) with no homers, five RBIs and two steals.
Rookie Javier Sanoja, 22, has filled Lopez’s spot at second base the last two games and provided two doubles, two runs and one RBI in seven at-bats.
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