Veteran infielder Doug Mientkiewicz, whom the Dodgers signed because of his scrappy approach and ability to provide key hits off the bench, suffered a dislocated right shoulder on an awkward, headfirst slide into second base in the sixth inning Thursday night.
The incident came as Mientkiewicz legged out a two-run, pinch double that gave the Dodgers a four-run lead. Mientkiewicz initially stayed in the game after a trainer popped his shoulder back into place, but that didn't last.
"It felt totally fine when they did that," said Mientkiewicz, choking back tears as he sat at his locker with his arm in a sling. "But then I went to push my helmet back down, and that was when it popped back out again. I have hurt it a few times in the past, but not like this. Hopefully, it's all right, but I'm just crushed."
Mientkiewicz came out of the game two batters later.
Mientkiewicz will undergo an MRI exam on Friday to determine the extent of the damage, but it is clear he is at least headed for the 15-day disabled list. The club is expected to make a corresponding move on Friday morning, with infielder Blake DeWitt and outfielder Xavier Paul the only candidates to be recalled from Class AAA Albuquerque. Like Mientkiewicz, both DeWitt and Paul are left-handed hitters.
DODGERS 7, GIANTS 2: Eric Stults gutted his way through five innings on a night when he battled control issues and clearly didn't have his best stuff. He handed the bullpen a 3-2 lead, and James McDonald, Ronald Belisario and Will Ohman combined to shut out the Giants the rest of the way, completing a three-game sweep. Casey Blake and Doug Mientkiewicz drove in two runs apiece for the Dodgers, and Rafael Furcal led off the game with a home run.
