WASHINGTON -- Of all the things the Red Sox didn¡¯t need in Game No. 162, a freak injury to a key player was high on the list.

But that¡¯s what happened when star slugger J.D. Martinez sprained his left ankle when he tripped over the second-base bag running out to play right field for the bottom of the fifth inning in Boston's 7-5 playoff clinching win over Washington.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora and a member of the training staff went out to check on Martinez, who stayed in the game initially.

But when Martinez¡¯s turn came to bat in the top of the sixth inning, Cora sent up Jos¨¦ Iglesias as a pinch-hitter.

Iglesias came through with a single and wound up scoring on a Christian V¨¢zquez single to slim the Nationals¡¯ lead to 5-2.

"He grinded that inning defensively, but today, it was a weird game, man. Because you¡¯re managing tonight, right? But then you see what¡¯s going on in front of you and it¡¯s like, ¡®Wow, this is not going our way and there¡¯s different scenarios that can happen,¡¯¡± Cora said. "You¡¯re trying to stay in the present, thinking in the future. It¡¯s tough to do. But we took him out, Iggy did a good job, he got two hits, played good defense and the guys stepped up, and that¡¯s what we do. Somebody goes down, somebody has to come in and do the job and tonight was really good.¡±

It is unknown how severe Martinez¡¯s sprain is. Cora said the club will "know more later on, tomorrow."