The LA Dodgers continued to show their offensive skill and recorded their 13th win in 14 games Saturday night over the Detroit Tigers. A scary moment came in Chavez Ravine when Ramon Troncoso threw a fastball that hit Austin Jackson in the helmet. A hush fell over the crowd, and there was concern in both dugouts over the health of Jackson.
Jackson rose to his feet and was able to walk to the dugout under his own power. He was replaced with a pinch runner, and the game resumed without further incident.
Casey Blake hit his third home run in five games, and made a vital play in the top of the ninth. Matt Kemp hit a solo home run adding to his tally for the year, and Blake Dewitt delivered a two-run double.
Troncoso come on in the eight inning, relieving Hong-Chih Kuo. He was shaken when the first batter, Brennan Boesch, led off with a home run. He walked the next batter. After a double-play, Troncoso hit Jackson in the head.
Jim Leyland was among the group of trainers and coaches who rushed to Jackson’s side.
“He got smoked pretty good,” Leyland said. “It’s just one of those unfortunate things that happen, and it’s part of the game. He came around pretty quickly and he appears to be OK, but you’ve got to be extremely cautious with that type of situation. So we’ll have him looked at in the hospital and we’ll go from there.”
Joe Torre, expressed relief when he was told of the news that Jackson was to make a full recovery.
“It was scary,” Torre said. “I mean, I’ve been beaned a few times, and I know every time somebody throws at somebody — at least during my tenure in New York — it was always ‘on purpose’ in everybody’s mind. It’s a frightening thing when pitchers are up and around the head, especially this time of day where you can’t see the ball as well as you normally could.”
Jackson in his rookie season with the Tigers has been hitting an impressive .337 with 11 RBIs and six stolen bases.
Dodger’s rookie pitcher John Ely looks promising, allowing just two runs on eight hits through six innings.
Online Sportsbooks have the LA Dodgers as the favorites to beat the Detroit Tigers Sunday at -155 to +140.