Carl Crawford out of lineup for Dodgers’ second game
Carl Crawford will be out of the lineup Tuesday night for the Dodgers’ second game of the regular season.
But it’s not because left-hander Madison Bumgarner is starting for the San Francisco Giants or because there’s anything wrong with Crawford’s surgically repaired elbow.
“We wanted to make sure we were able to wean him in the first couple series,†Mattingly said.
Crawford was two for four with a double and a run scored in the Dodgers’ season-opening victory over the Giants on Monday. He played eight innings in left field.
“Nine innings was going to be different, the intensity was going to be different,†Mattingly said.
Jerry Hairston Jr. will start in left field in place of the former All-Star. Crawford will return to the lineup Wednesday. The Dodgers have a day off Thursday.
The Dodgers are taking a cautious approach with Crawford, whom they feel they have to protect from himself.
“He’s going to want to get out there every day,†Mattingly said. “Carl’s a worker. He loves to hit and hit and go and go. He’s a full-speed guy. He gets after it pretty good. It’s part of getting his feet wet.â€
Mattingly said he envisions Crawford playing all nine innings soon. Crawford was replaced in the ninth inning Monday by Skip Schumaker, a decision Mattingly now regrets. With a four-run lead, Mattingly said he might as well have left him in.
“I’m not going to switch Carl out for defense as we get going and get comfortable and his throwing gets to where it’s normal,†Mattingly said.
Dodgers lineup:
Jerry Hairston Jr. LF
Mark Ellis 2B
Matt Kemp CF
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
Luis Cruz 3B
Andre Ethier RF
A.J. Ellis C
Justin Sellers SS
Hyun-Jin Ryu P
Giants lineup:
Angel Pagan CF
Marco Scutaro 2B
Pablo Sandoval 3B
Buster Posey C
Hunter Pence RF
Joaquin Arias 1B
Andres Torres LF
Brandon Crawford SS
Madison Bumgarner P
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