By Steve Dilbeck
Just because it’s predictable, doesn’t make it any less painful.
Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers’ hard-charging outfielder, was left stunned and glossy-eyed after attempting to make a game-saving catch and running hard into the outfield wall in Miami on Sunday.
The Dodgers are taking a wait-and-see approach to Puig, officially listing him as day to day.
In a tie game in the bottom of the ninth Sunday, Puig sprinted to the right-field corner and came close to making a brilliant catch of what proved to be Jeff Baker’s game-winning double.
Puig runs with great speed and has already had his share of outfield collisions in just his second season, but this one left him falling in a heap on the warning track after missing the ball by inches.
He remained there for a while. Relievers Jamey Wright and J.P. Howell ran out to right to check on him, before he finally walked off the field with an arm draped around trainer Stan Conte.
Puig was seen by a doctor after the game and the Dodgers said he was negative for a concussion test. Still looking stunned, he did not talk to reporters in Miami.
The Dodgers said he hit the left side of his head and lower leg.
“He hit the wall good,” Manager Don Mattingly told reporters. “He seemed to be OK when he was walking in. I’m sure they’re going to keep looking at him. He was pointing to multiple areas, his ankle, his head.
“I’m sure they’re checking everything.”
The ball appeared to ricochet off a padded outfield pole and strike Puig in the face. He has a six-game hitting streak going and has raised his batting average to .309.
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