Bregman, Maldonado weather injuries to take WS title

HOUSTON – Astros third baseman Alex Bregman faces an eight-week recovery after breaking his left index finger while sliding into second base in the eighth inning of Houston’s Game 6 World Series victory over the Phillies on Saturday night.

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Bregman said Sunday that X-rays confirmed the diagnosis he feared, but he won’t need surgery. He said he will be ready to go for Spring Training next year.

“It was best-case scenario,” said Bregman, who slashed .294/.379/.569 in 11 postseason games with three homers and 11 RBIs. “I look forward to training hard this offseason and getting back to Spring Training ready to roll.”

Bregman singled with one out in the eighth inning and was tagged out at second base. Bregman was originally called safe, but the Phillies challenged the call and replay showed second baseman Jean Segura tagging Bregman’s left index finger as he slid into the base, bending it backwards. He stayed in the game for defense in the ninth and said his availability for a potential Game 7 wouldn’t have been in doubt.

“We would have found a way to play,” he said.

Meanwhile, veteran catcher Martín Maldonado said he will undergo surgery next week to repair a sports hernia, in addition to playing with a broken bone in his right hand since he was hit by a pitch on Aug. 28. He missed two games after being hit but played in the final 19 games of the regular season and started 11 of 13 playoff games, going 6-for-29.