Remember that time when it seemed a different Dodger was going down to injury almost by the day?
Remember this weekend.
Hanley Ramirez, whose bat has been the key to the Dodgers’ offensive resurgence this season, left Sunday’s game against the Chicago Cubs holding his right shoulder after falling over the short Wrigley Field wall along the left-field line and tumbling into the stands.
The Dodgers announced after their 1-0 win that Ramirez had suffered a jammed
shoulder. They said it was not dislocated and he would have an MRI for
more thorough examination Monday. After the game, Ramirez had the
shoulder in a sling.
On Saturday the Dodgers lost outfielder Yasiel Puig to a hand injury, which they believe is minor.
Losing Ramirez would be a huge blow. He has already been on the disabled list twice (thumb, hamstring) this season, but since returning from his latest stint has sparked the Dodgers to the best streak (30-7) in baseball.
The Dodgers are 32-13 when Ramirez starts. He is batting .361 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 54 games.
With a strong wind blowing in at Wrigley Sunday, David DeJesus led off the seventh with a pop-up. At first Ramirez sprinted toward foul ground behind third base, but he caught the ball on the run and then managed a few quick steps to slow down before hitting the thigh-high brick wall and tumbling into the stands.
He did not appear to fall that hard, but landed with his right arm extended. There was no immediate news on the extent of the injury.
Previously in his career, Ramirez injured his left shoulder and required surgery.
Ramirez was 0 for 2 with a walk Sunday, but had scored the game’s only run.
-Steve Dilbeck
