Snell exits loss to Yankees with groin injury

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants starter Blake Snell exited Sunday’s 7-5 loss to the Yankees at Oracle Park with a tight left groin in the middle of an at-bat in the top of the fifth inning.

Snell had thrown a season-high 99 pitches (56 strikes) and was two pitches into an at-bat against Alex Verdugo when manager Bob Melvin and a trainer came out to check on the Giants’ left-hander.

It was Snell’s third start since returning from the 15-day injured list on May 22 in Pittsburgh. He had missed a little more than a month with a left adductor strain. The adductor muscles are located in the inner thigh and run from the pelvic bone to the knee.

Before this season, Snell had also been sidelined with left adductor issues in 2021 and ’22.

Rookie left-hander Erik Miller entered the game and inherited a 1-1 count against Verdugo with the bases loaded and two outs. Miller surrendered a two-run double that tied the game at 3 before inducing a groundout from DJ LeMahieu to end the inning.

Before his early departure, Snell, who joined the Giants on a two-year, $62 million deal (with an opt-out after 2024) at the end of Spring Training, had been putting together one of his best starts with San Francisco. He allowed three runs, all earned, on five hits and three walks while striking out a season-high-tying seven batters.