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In what has already been a painful series for the Dodgers, with Corey Seager fouling a ball off his right ankle and sitting out Thursday, the first inning of the series finale saw more bruising, with Justin Turner leaving after getting hit by a pitch on his right thumb.
After getting checked by team trainer Nate Lucero both immediately after the hit by pitch and in the dugout after the top half ended, Turner remained in the game for one inning. But to start the bottom of the second Turner was removed.
X-rays were negative, and Turner is day-to-day with a right thumb contusion per the team.
Right thumb contusion for Justin Turner. X-rays are negative. Day-to-day.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) September 21, 2017
Turner talked about the injury after the game.
Turner said his right thumb was swollen. "I would have been fine throwing, just don't know how it would have been if I took another AB."
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) September 21, 2017
.@redturn2 on his x-rays coming back negative after being hit on the hand in today's game. pic.twitter.com/i5lstOIdjH
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 21, 2017
Turner’s exit caused several defensive changes for the Dodgers.
Logan Forsythe, who made his first start at shortstop since 2014 on Thursday, shifted over to third base, with Chris Taylor moving from center field to shortstop. Cody Bellinger moved from first base to center field, and Chase Utley moved from second base to first base. Austin Barnes who did not start on Thursday, entered in Turner’s spot in the batting order, at second base.
This is Barnes’ 17th game at second base in 2017, including three starts.
It was the 18th time Turner has been hit by a pitch in 2017, tied for fifth in baseball. He tied Alex Cora (2004) for the most times hit by a pitch in a single season in Los Angeles Dodgers history. The franchise record is 20 hit by pitches, set in 1900 by Brooklyn first baseman Hughie Jennings, who was also hit 19 times in just 267 plate appearances in 1899.
Turner has been hit at least 10 times for three straight seasons, and his 41 HBP since the start of 2015 ranks sixth in MLB. He has been hit in 2.59% of his plate appearances during that time, compared to the major league average of 0.91%.