Dodgers closer Javy Guerra was hit in the face by a line drive Wednesday night, but by Friday afternoon the evidence had all but disappeared.
Guerra's jaw was visibly swollen after Wednesday's game, in which Brian McCann's liner off Guerra was the second of five consecutive singles off the closer in a 4-2 Braves comeback win. But Friday night, the right side of his face was blemish free.
"Javy came out of it pretty good, especially from the neck up," manager Don Mattingly said. "There is nothing structurally wrong with the jaw, there were no concussion symptoms."
Guerra passed all tests, including a concussion test and a CAT scan, though he did slightly injure the top of his right foot while wrenching his body to avoid the line drive. Guerra didn't pitch Friday night, but Mattingly said he would have used Guerra if he had to in an emergency.
"Sue (Falsone, team trainer) feels like it's short term and there's really nothing structurally wrong there," Mattingly said.
Mattingly said after Friday's game that Guerra would be available to close on Saturday if needed.
Guerra said Friday he has tried not to think about the line drive, that comebackers were simply a hazard of being a pitcher. He also said his mother got emotional when she saw the play, but Guerra, much like he did the line drive, shrugged it off.
"She cries at everything," Guerra quipped.
NOTES, QUOTES
Kershaw ties L.A. record consecutive home wins
--LHP Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs in eight innings for the win over the Nationals on Friday night. Kershaw has won 12 straight decisions at home, tying Ed Roebuck (1960-62) and Orel Hershiser (1984-85) for the longest home winning streak since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles.
--RF Andre Ethier hit his fifth home run of the season. The two-run shot gave Ethier 24 RBI, one more than teammate CF Matt Kemp for the major league lead.
"If I keep pace with Kemp, I'll be fine. I might not be up with four or five categories like he is, but I can be there in one," Ethier joked after the game.
--RHP Nathan Eovaldi was recalled from Double-A Chattanooga before Friday's game. Eovaldi, 22, had a 2.08 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 13 innings in Double-A this season and was happy to get the call, his second stint in the big leagues. "It's still a great call to get. I was still pretty excited about it," Eovaldi said.
--LHP Michael Antonini was optioned to Triple A Albuquerque on Friday, just three days after he was recalled. Antonini did not pitch in either of the two games for which he was active in first stint in the big leagues.
--OF/1B Juan Rivera was held out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game Friday night with a strained left hamstring but was able to field grounders and take part in batting practice before the game.
"He feels better today than he did yesterday," manager Don Mattingly said. "We're still hopeful that he doesn't have to go on the DL and that maybe it's just a couple of days."
--RHP Todd Coffey pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout Friday night for the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on a rehab assignment. Coffey is on the disabled list with right knee inflammation but is eligible to return to the Dodgers on Sunday.
BY THE NUMBERS: 24 -- RBI for RF Andre Ethier, most in the major leagues, and one more than teammate CF Matt Kemp
QUOTE TO NOTE: "If I keep pace with Kemp, I'll be fine. I might not be up with four or five categories like he is, but I can be there in one." -- RF Andre Ethier, on passing teammate CF Matt Kemp for the major league RBI lead Friday night.
