MLB teams
Mark Saxon, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Hanley Ramirez misses game

MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez sat out Thursday's game after getting hit in the left hand by a pitch from the Giants' Ryan Vogelsong on Wednesday.

The pitch, a 90-mph fastball, ran in on Ramirez and caught him on the back of the hand. He immediately removed his batting helmet and slammed it to the ground in disgust. There appeared to be considerable inflammation when Ramirez removed his batting glove as he crouched behind home plate at AT&T Park.

X-rays came back negative and the swelling had subsided Thursday, but not sufficiently for him to be in Thursday's lineup against the Giants.

Ramirez, however, said he'll be back against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.

"I'm not going to try. I'm going to be in there," Ramirez said. "For sure, I'm going to be in there tomorrow."

Ramirez entered the game hitting .291 with two home runs and seven RBIs.

"I talked to him. I'm sure he's relieved," manager Don Mattingly said after Wednesday's game. "You see when you get hit there, you're a little worried. The X-rays coming back is good for us and we'll see where he's at tomorrow, the next day or whatever. I'm sure he's going to be a little sore."

Vogelsong's command appeared to be excellent before he hit Ramirez. He had thrown a first-pitch strike to 15 of the first 20 batters he faced.

Ramirez was rendered largely ineffective when he was hit in the ribs by a Joe Kelly pitch in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Cardinals last October. When he was healthy, he was the best hitter in the National League in 2013. His 1.040 OPS led all NL players with at least 250 plate appearances.

Ramirez had played every inning of the Dodgers' first 14 games. The team is thin at shortstop. Dee Gordon, who has made a strong transition to second base, might be forced to move back to shortstop if Ramirez is out for a while.

"It got me good," Ramirez said. "It's sore a little bit. I iced it twice already and I'll go back to the hotel and try to ice it twice before I go to bed so I can be in there (Thursday)."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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