Visits: 1
Story had braced himself on the dirt with his right hand as he dove for Turner’s grounder. The throw to first caused him pain, he said, and he aggravated it while extending his arm to swing. He could not guess the severity of the injury, and Black said Story would undergo tests on Tuesday.
“It’s tough, man,” Story said. “It’s unfortunate, frustrating for me. You never want to come out of a game, especially a game like this, such a huge series.”
The Rockies’ starter, Jon Gray, allowed six runs and seven hits and could not get an out in the third inning. It was similar to his performance in the N.L. wild card game in Arizona last fall, when he gave up four singles, a double, a triple and a homer to the Diamondbacks, who chased him in the second inning.
Gray started on opening day but tumbled to the minors at midseason. His earned run average is 5.07.
“The thing for me is just not thinking about the mechanical stuff when I’m competing,” he said. “That can get in the way. It got in the way a lot tonight. I’ve had it happen to me too many times already. I’m sick of it right now.”
The Dodgers were ready for him, because their roster is constructed to handle every possible opponent. Eight players have hit at least 20 homers this season, and Turner, who missed 50 games with injuries, has slugged .535. Ten active position players have been All-Stars.
“Especially in September, with rosters expanding, this has got to be one of the best-assembled teams down the stretch I’ve ever seen,” second baseman Brian Dozier said. “Obviously we’re playing matchups a lot, and right now, we have the bodies to be able to do that.”
Dozier and David Freese, who hit right-handed, did not start against Gray. Neither did the right-handed Matt Kemp, who started in the All-Star Game in July, or Chris Taylor, a co-Most Valuable Player of the last N.L. Championship Series (with Turner).