Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina has knee sprain, will be sent home for evaluation

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is dealing with a knee injury and will be evaluated in St. Louis. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is dealing with a knee injury and will be evaluated in St. Louis. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina left the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a right knee sprain and will return to St. Louis Wednesday for further evaluation, the team announced.

The five-time All-Star was replaced in the lineup by Rob Johnson after going 0 for 2 in the second game. He also had a passed ball defensively that allowed a runner to score from third.

Molina has been dealing with pain in the knee since last month and had a MRI earlier this month that showed that he had inflammation in the knee. The Cardinals are struggling, having lost six games in a row, and have lost their lead in the National League Central to the Pirates.

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