Rays catcher Dioner Navarro badly hurt in home-plate collision during 6-2 loss to Twins

Rays C Navarro badly hurt during 6-2 loss to Twins

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro sustained what the team called a nerve contusion in his left leg in a hard collision during the Rays’ 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

Navarro was taken away in an ambulance after a collision at home plate with Minnesota’s Jacque Jones in the fourth inning. He was taken to a local clinic for X-rays, which came back negative.

The Rays expect Navarro to be ready by Opening Day.

David Price gave up six straight hits during the Twins’ four-run fourth inning. Jones started the inning with a one-out double. When Brendan Harris followed with a single, Jones tried to score and was thrown out by center fielder Justin Ruggiano.

After an eight-minute delay due to Navarro’s injury, the Twins collected four more hits off Price, who gave up 11 hits in four innings.

Minnesota starter Francisco Liriano struck out four in three innings.

Jones, Ben Revere, Orlando Hudson and Alexi Casilla had two hits each off Price.