Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki exits game vs. Pirates with apparent leg injury

Rockies four-time All-Star Troy Tulowitzki exited Saturday night's road game vs. the Pirates with an apparent upper leg injury.

In his place, Josh Rutledge came in at shortstop. The 29-year-old came up grabbing his upper leg after running out an inning-ending grounder in the top of the fourth inning. He then exited the game for the dugout and Rutledge replaced him. He was 0-2 with a strikeout in the game prior to the injury.

The Rockies announced during the game that Tulowitzki left with a thigh cramp. It's not clear whether the injury would warrant a DL trip for the NL MVP candidate.

Troy Tulowitzki left tonight's game with a cramp in the tensor fascia latae of his left thigh.
— Rockies Club Information (@RockiesClubInfo) July 20, 2014

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Aside from playing great defense this year, Tulowitzki is batting .342/.434/.607 with 21 homers and has driven in 52 runs. The injury comes less than a week after he was the starting shortstop for the National League at the All-Star Game in Minnesota this year. He was also the NL Home Run Derby captain.

The Rockies were 40-56 heading into Saturday night's game vs. the Pirates. They finish the series on Sunday.

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