CHICAGO _ Jose Abreu slipped on the infield grass and his legs nearly parted into the splits in the fifth inning Wednesday against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The botched attempt at fielding Cheslor Cuthbert's soft grounder gave the Royals two runners on base with nobody out. Worse yet, it knocked Abreu from the game just as he is starting to roll at the plate.
With two hits Wednesday, Abreu has gone 11-for-24 over his last seven games to raise his batting average from .157 to .253.
Sox manager Rick Renteria said afterward Abreu didn't want to leave the game, though he limped off the field on his own with a mild right hip flexor strain.
The Sox said he will be re-evaluated during the team's three-game series against the Tigers in Detroit this weekend, but Abreu said through a team interpreter that with a day off Thursday he expects to be able to play Friday.
"I went to try to catch the ball and my right leg slipped. It felt like a strain in my groin," Abreu said. "I got treatment and I feel good. The day off tomorrow is going to help."
Abreu doubled in the first and fourth innings against Royals right-hander Nate Karns. His first-inning hit down the left-field line drove in the club's first run of the game.
"I always want more," Abreu said. "The results are getting better than probably a week ago, but I'm working hard to have my offense where I want it to be."
The Sox have dealt with a long list of injuries in the first month of the season, but mostly to their pitchers. Right-handers James Shields, Jake Petricka and Zach Putnam and left-hander Carlos Rodon are all on the 10-day disabled list.
