Chris Taylor leaves game with left knee contusion after slipping on first base

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor suffered a left knee contusion and left Wednesday night’s game against the Padres in the first inning.

Taylor led off the game with a ground ball to shortstop, and reached base on a throwing error by Yangervis Solarte. Taylor had to maneuver to avoid leaping first baseman Wil Myers, then had his left foot slip as he hit the top of the bag.

After a meeting with trainer Nate Lucero and manager Dave Roberts, and some jogging down the foul line and back, a limping Taylor remained in the game momentarily. But after Corey Seager walked, Curtis Granderson entered the game to pinch run for Taylor at second base.

“It was more of a scare,” Roberts said. “It’s not a good feeling seeing your center fielder and center fielder hobbling out there.”

Taylor iced his knee after he left the game, and both he and Roberts said he expects to be in the lineup on Friday night when the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Taylor is hitting .287/.354/.498 with 21 home runs, and leads the club with 34 doubles and 17 stolen bases. He has started 72 times batting leadoff, hitting .300/.370/.534 from the top spot in the lineup.