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Cubs closer Brandon Morrow injures back taking off his pants

The pitcher was unavailable for Tuesday's doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Credit: Jonathan Daniel
Brandon Morrow #15 of the Chicago Cubs pitches for a save in the 9th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on June 7, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Phillies 4-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs closer Brandon Morrow can blame his pants – and not anything on the field – for his latest injury.

The pitcher was unavailable for Tuesday's doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to a back injury he suffered as a result of taking down his pants.

"Just undressing at my house," Morrow, who has 16 saves this season, told reporters on Tuesday. "Like 3 a.m., in the closet, got my right leg off. Left one just felt like a spasm in my back. It's frustrating any time you can't get out there, especially when you can't go because of something stupid like taking your pants off.

"Getting hurt any time's frustrating, but when it's not related to throwing a baseball it's even that much more frustrating."

Morrow expects to be back soon, and added: "I'm hoping that since it's not like a trauma-induced spasm — like I wasn't throwing a pitch or lifting something or twisting — that once the muscle relaxes it should be OK."

Morrow isn't the first player to suffer a back injury in a peculiar fashion. In 2004, then-Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa suffered back spasms from sneezing.

Giants closer Hunter Strickland broke his right hand punching a wall after blowing a save. He will miss six to eight weeks. John Hefti, USA TODAY Sports

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