SAN FRANCISCO, May 26 (Reuters) - Talismanic San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is likely to miss the rest of the season because of a leg fracture, the World Series champions said on Thursday.
Posey, who has been one of San Francisco's leading players this year, broke a bone in his lower left leg after colliding with Scott Cousins of the Florida Marlins at AT&T Park on Wednesday.
The collision occurred at home plate during the 12th inning when the 24-year-old Posey tried to block the winning run by Cousins. The Marlins won the game 7-6.
"I knelt over him and tried to see if he was all right. He's a great guy and a great player," Cousins told reporters after his team's victory.
"I'm not trying to end anybody's season or anything like that. I am just trying to play hard. He didn't say much. You could tell he was in pain."
Posey, the National League's 2010 rookie of the year, was scheduled to have an MRI scan, the Giants said on their website (http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com).
To make up for the loss of the catcher's cleanup hitting, San Francisco have recalled first baseman Brandon Belt from Triple-A Fresno.
Posey, who has become the team leader in the Giants clubhouse, is hitting .284 this season with four home runs and 21 RBIs. He extended his hitting streak to 13 games against the Marlins on Wednesday three innings before he was hurt.
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