KC Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino leaves Tuesday's game with a left leg injury

Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino left Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Twins due to a leg injury.

Officially, he is day-to-day after X-rays of his left leg came back negative. The official injury is a bruise of the left lower leg, the club said. More specifically, the injury is located near his left shin and calf.

“He just has a bruised nerve on the side of his leg,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro.

Pasquantino sustained the injury in the third inning when he reached to catch a throw from Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia.

Pasquantino caught the baseball as Twins star Byron Buxton was running down the first-base line. He reached up to catch the ball but landed awkwardly.

Replays showed that Buxton jostled Pasquantino as he touched first base. Buxton ran mostly inside the free throw line and his knee struck the leg of the outstretched Pasquantino.

Buxton hugged Pasquantino before leaving the field.

Quatraro and the training staff went out to check on Pasquantino, who remained on the ground for a few moments before attempting to shake off the injury.

Pasquantino walked around the first-base area, but when he left the Royals' clubhouse, he was visibly limping.

“He's going to be fine day by day,” Quatraro said. “We just have to wait until he gets a little better.”

The Royals sent Salvador Perez, who started at catcher, to first base. Backup catcher Freddy Fermin came in behind the plate.

KC lost its third straight game on Tuesday. Minnesota picked up a 4-2 win as Royals left-hander Cole Ragans allowed three earned runs in the loss.