SEATTLE -- Nelson Cruz admits it's been a very stop-and-start season so far, due to a series of nagging injuries and illnesses for the Mariners' big designated hitter.
The 37-year-old strained a quadricep muscle and missed time in Spring Training, then was just back to feeling good when he slipped on the dugout steps at Safeco Field and sprained his ankle after homering for the second night in a row in Seattle's second game of the season.
After a two-week stint on the disabled list, he struggled at the plate after pushing to come back quickly and went 3-for-23 over the next six games before finally starting to look like himself again.