NEW YORK -- Criticized for not running hard, New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano got hurt hustling up the first-base line.
The 36-year-old slugger left Wednesday night's 6-1 win over the Washington Nationals after straining his left quadriceps.
Cano got hurt when he grounded out in the third inning following J.D. Davis' two-out double. The Mets trailed 1-0 at the time.
"He took a few hard steps out of the box, got about halfway down the line and it grabbed on him,'' manager Mickey Callaway said.
An eight-time All-Star, Cano twice failed to run out grounders last weekend against the Marlins in Miami, both of them resulting in double plays. Callaway said he addressed the issue, and Cano did not start Monday against the Nationals.
Callaway cited Cano's hustle when he doubled to right-center as a pinch hitter on Monday night and slid into second.
"I guess he had his fastest time from home to second [in three years], so I'm sure he was aware that he needs to get going a little bit,'' Callaway said.
Cano is batting .241 with three homers and 13 RBIs in his first season with the Mets. The former New York Yankees star was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in December.
Cano had an MRI during the game. Callaway said he did not yet know the results.
Mets infielder Luis Guillorme was removed from Triple-A Syracuse's game at Lehigh Valley in the fifth inning, a sign Cano could be headed to the injured list.
"They're always proactive during the game,'' Callaway said. "If something like that happens, they'll pull a player out just to make sure he's good to go in case we need him."