Dodgers News: Yasmani Grandal Struck By Foul Ball, Removed From Game
UPDATE (July 19, 2:00 p.m. PT): According to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register, results came back negative on an X-ray of Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal’s jaw and he’ll be examined again in Atlanta on Monday:
Yasmani Grandal had X-ray for possible broken jaw. Negative. Will have further exam tomorrow. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 19, 2015
[divide]
After appearing in one of the two games played Saturday afternoon at Nationals Park, Yasmani Grandal was back behind the plate Sunday to catch Zack Greinke in the finale of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ three-game series with the Washington Nationals.
Greinke was pitted against Max Scherzer, setting the stage for an expected pitchers’ duel. The expectation became reality as Greinke and Scherzer largely baffled hitters, though the Dodgers managed to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.
With their lead still intact, Greinke took the mound in the sixth with 40.2 consecutive scoreless innings under his belt. Michael Taylor led the inning off and during his at-bat fouled off a pitch that struck Grandal square on the bottom portion of his catcher’s mask.
Grandal immediately signaled to the Dodgers’ dugout for trainers to come out and was promptly removed from the game, replaced by A.J. Ellis. Grandal previously was sidelined for one week with a concussion after being hit by two foul balls in the same game.
Although it was considered a mild concussion, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly placed an emphasis on the club easing Grandal back into action for fear the catcher suffering a second concussion. He entered Sunday’s game batting .276/.395/.516 with 14 home runs and 36 RBIs.
Grandal was 1-for-1 with a walk and sacrifice bunt prior to being removed from the game. An prognosis was not available at the time of this writing. Updates will be provided once available.
[divide]Dodgers 2nd Annual All-Access Event
42.3 innings? If there are now 4 outs to an inning, games will take longer!