Hector Sanchez leaves game with left knee sprain

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ATLANTA -- The Giants have the most RBIs at the catcher position in the majors, but the Robin in their Dynamic Duo left Tuesday night's game in the fourth inning.

Hector Sanchez sustained a sprained left knee when he made a sudden move on the basepaths. He tried to jog but not to the satisfaction of Giants head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner, who escorted him off the field.

There was no immediate word on the severity of the injury, but by definition, every sprain is a ligament tear to some degree. The Giants could recall Eli Whiteside if Sanchez is forced to the disabled list. Whiteside is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster.

Sanchez was in Tuesday's lineup as Barry Zito's catcher for the left-hander's 18th consecutive start. Although Giants manager Bruce Bochy hinted last week that he'd have Buster Posey catch Zito, the skipper said prior to the game that he wanted to keep Sanchez's switch-hitting bat in the lineup. Sanchez had a single in two at-bats before he got hurt.

Posey started at first base and was having a productive night in his own right. The lad from Leesburg, Ga., was 3 for 3 with five RBIs by the fourth inning; his career high was six, set July 7, 2010 at Milwaukee.

Each of Posey's hits came with two strikes; the first two also came with two outs.

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