Red Sox star Xander Bogaerts removed from game vs. Rays due to COVID-19

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Boston Red Sox star shortstop Xander Bogaerts was pulled from Tuesday's game against the division rival Tampa Bay Rays after testing positive for COVID-19.

Bogaerts was on the field against the Rays when Red Sox manager Alex Cora motioned for him to exit the game in the bottom of the second inning. Shortly later, the Red Sox announced his positive coronavirus test.

Jonathan Arauz, who started at second base, replaced Bogaerts at shortstop. Yairo Munoz took over at second base for Arauz.

Bogaerts becomes the sixth Red Sox player to test positive for COVID-19 since Friday, joining Hirokazu Sawamura, Martin Perez, Matt Barnes, Enrique Hernandez and Christian Arroyo.

Sawamura was added to the COVID-19 injured list earlier Tuesday, while left-hander Josh Taylor went on the list as a close contact individual.

Perez and Barnes were put on the COVID-19 list before Monday's 6-1 loss to the Rays. Later, it was announced that Taylor and first-base coach Tom Goodwin were placed in quarantine as close contacts, and quality control coach Ramon Vazquez had tested positive for the virus.

Hernandez and Arroyo landed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday. They remain in Cleveland, where the Red Sox were playing when both players tested positive.

Entering Tuesday, the Red Sox held a two-game lead over the Oakland Athletics for the second wild-card spot in the American League.