Dodgers: Justin Turner and Edwin Rios Combine on Big Night Despite Minor Injuries
Let Friday be known as the night of multiple thumb injuries for the Dodgers. With not much else to play for, LA continues running out their regulars, much to the chagrin of some fans. Still, the club doesn’t want to stumble into the postseason. They’re here to play.
However, on a night where the San Diego Padres lost a pitching staff ace to injury, it’s understandable to hear even more cries for the bubble wrap. Especially after two Dodgers took baseballs off their thumbs.
"I told him 'Hey those have homers in them' and sure enough he went up and hit a homer." @redturn2 on both him and @Edwin_Rios30 jamming their finger and hitting a home run afterwards. pic.twitter.com/k0SzoukQVE
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 26, 2020
Third basemen Justin Turner and Edwin Rios both had big nights with the bat, combining for 3 home runs and 4 runs batted in — Rios came on in relief of Turner who’s still managing his workload as he returns from a tweaked hamstring.
This is Justin Turner's 10th career multi-home run game. His last was Aug. 11, 2019.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 26, 2020
Monkey see monkey do, each JT and Eddie also came away from the game with ailing digits. After the game, Turner confirmed that he jammed his thumb early in the game while fielding an Albert Pujols groundball. Later in the contest, Rios took an Anthony Rendon hit off of his finger.
“Overall, JT and Eddie are fine,” Dave Roberts said after the game. “It was good to see both those guys combine for three homers.”
It’s Just a Flesh Wound
For Turner, it adds to the laundry list of dings and literal bruises the 35-year-old is working through. When asked whether the strained hamstring is what kept him on the Injured List for longer than expected, he revealed that a bruise from a hit by pitch was more the culprit. He explained the double leg injury.
It was kind of a two-fold thing… a couple days before the hammy, I had got hit in the hamstring, so it was a combination of getting the bruising out of there — it was one of the better bruises I’ve had; right in the back of my hamstring and it started draining into the back of my knee and then into my calf — so it was trying to take care of that and come back from the little tweak in the hammy as well.
Trust that it’s somehow worse writing that than it is reading it.
All told, everything looks to be a non-issue for Turner who’s looking October ready, hitting .428 since coming off the IL on September 15th. Oh, he also picked up the Roy Campanella award on Friday as well. Congrats, JT!
NEXT: Max Muncy Leaves Game Early with Wrist Issue
