Alex Gordon leaves Royals game with left groin strain

Kansas City Royals All-Star left fielder Alex Gordon was carted off the field with a left groin strain suffered while chasing down a fly ball against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Logan Forsythe hit a ball over Gordon's head in left field in the fourth inning. While chasing the ball down, Gordon appeared to twist his left ankle, then immediately fell to the ground. Forsythe made it all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Gordon was carted off the field, replaced in left field by Jarrod Dyson.

The prognosis after the game wasn't good.

Ned Yost says he's hopeful on Gordon that it's not extremely long term as in months out but it could be. MRI now

— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) July 9, 2015

Alex Gordon could be out for months, Ned Yost says. He does not appear optimistic.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 9, 2015

Gordon is hitting .279/.394/.457 with 11 home runs and 13 doubles in 78 games for the Royals, who began Wednesday with the best record in the American League (48-33) and a 4½-game lead in the National League West.

The 31-year-old is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner and on Sunday was named to his third All-Star team, this year for the first time as elected starter in the outfield.