Ke'Bryan Hayes back in Pirates lineup, reflects on how shoulder injury happened

After missing two games with a sore shoulder that was injured while scoring the winning run — headfirst — Thursday, Ke’Bryan Hayes was back in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting lineup Sunday. He led off for the 26th time this season in the finale of the three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Before the game, Hayes told reporters the soreness “kind of went away a little bit” Saturday. “So, it felt a little better,” he said.

Hayes collided with Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreas’ shin guard on the final play of the Pirates’ 8-7 victory, but he doesn’t believe it was a dirty play by his opponent.

“I mean, no, not really,” he said. “It was a bang-bang play, and the throw kind of short-hopped, so I kind of get it how he had to drop or whatever.

“And then, obviously, going in headfirst isn’t the smartest thing all the time. So it was just kind of a freak accident. I don’t think he was trying to do it on purpose or anything. But you never know what someone’s thinking.”

Contreras was blocking the plate with his knee, but Hayes touched the plate with his hand.

“You see (blocking the plate) a little more. I know a lot of the guys on the Dodgers, they kind of do it,” Hayes said. “I haven’t really looked deep into it at home plate and stuff like that. But it could be numbers of that could be going up.

“I feel you can play hard and still play the right way. I’ve never tried blocking the bag or anything whenever someone’s sliding. I’m not out there trying to hurt people Those cleats are sharp. You don’t want to get get eight spikes in your arm.”

Hayes’ .264 batting average leads all Pirates who have played in more than five games. He played in 63 of the first 71.