The Dodgers’ road trip took another turn for the worse on Friday night, as they dropped their fourth straight game in a 2-1 walk-off loss to the Orioles. Rookie phenom Samuel Basallo delivered the decisive blow with a ninth-inning homer off reliever Tanner Scott, handing Los Angeles yet another tough setback in the division race.
The Dodgers’ problems deepened in the sixth inning when rookie catcher Dalton Rushing was forced to leave the game after fouling a ball hard off his right leg. Manager Dave Roberts and the training staff helped carry Rushing off the field, and he was later diagnosed with a right leg contusion. He was replaced by Ben Rortvedt, who had been called up on Thursday.
The injury comes just days after All-Star catcher Will Smith suffered a right-hand contusion in Pittsburgh. Following the game, Roberts noted that Rushing was in significant pain after the ball struck the inside of his knee and was using crutches to move around the clubhouse.
“It got him pretty good,” Roberts said. “X-rays fortunately were negative. He’s going to get a CT scan tomorrow morning just to kind of dig a little deeper on it. He’s pretty banged up right now. I think until we know more, obviously he’s not going to be in there tomorrow. I guess it’s adding him to the day-to-day list.”
Rushing’s injury is especially frustrating given the timing. With Smith sidelined, the rookie was expected to see an uptick in playing time, playing time had already been difficult to come by for the organization’s top prospect, who Smith has blocked since the veteran signed a 10-year, $140 million extension. Roberts has also indicated Rushing would not see action at other positions, limiting his versatility on the roster.
When Rushing was promoted on May 14 to replace longtime backup Austin Barnes, it was viewed as a surprise move. But despite his prospect pedigree, the 24-year-old has struggled in his first extended big-league action, hitting just .193 with a .258 on-base percentage and a .560 OPS. For many who hoped he would be an offensive upgrade over Barnes, the production hasn’t matched the hype.
Now, with both Smith and Rushing sidelined, the Dodgers are scrambling for catching depth. Roberts said Rortvedt will start on Saturday and added that the club will likely call up another catcher to share time as the team looks to continue its fight to win the division.