Dodgers News: Carl Crawford Battling Hamstring Tightness

It wasn’t until there were two outs in the ninth inning on Friday night that the Los Angeles Dodgers managed to get on the board. Trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks, 12-0, Justin Ruggiano added to his hot streak with the Dodgers by hitting a grand slam.

Carl Crawford made sure Los Angeles wouldn’t need to wait as long to score on Saturday as he clubbed a leadoff home run in the first inning. The leadoff homer was the Dodgers’ third in the last four games. It was the lone hit of the night for Crawford, though he also made a key running catch to end a bases-loaded threat in the fourth inning.

However, Crawford was then pinch-hit for in the fifth. The Los Angeles Dodgers later announced his early removal was due to right hamstring tightness:

Carl Crawford has departed the game and is day-to-day with right hamstring tightness. Scott Schebler has replaced him in LF.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 13, 2015

Although Crawford became the latest to fall victim to the hamstring pandemic, he wasn’t overly concerned following Saturday’s win, via J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News:

Carl Crawford said he could play tomorrow if he had to. He won't. Dbacks starting a lefty.

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) September 13, 2015

As he did last season, Crawford has heated up now that he’s healthy and postseason play looming on the horizon. He hit .302/.362/.396 with one home run, seven RBIs, six stolen bases and a 120 OPS+ over 24 games (12 starts) in August.

Crawford missed time earlier this season with a torn oblique suffered in late April, and kept him sidelined for nearly three months. The 34-year-old left fielder is batting .266/.300/.420 and has a .301 wOBA over 55 games.