Joey Gallo provided the Los Angeles Dodgers with a decided lead en route to clinching the National League West on Tuesday night, but he also endured an injury scare in their 4-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Gallo was the final batter in the top of the ninth inning and he went down to the ground when going to run toward first base. He was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer but remained in the game to finish playing left field despite Gallo turning his left ankle pretty significantly.
“I’ve got loose ankles, so I’m pretty lucky on that front,” Gallo said as the Dodgers celebrated a ninth NL West title in the past 10 years.
“I don’t know. I just rolled it trying to come out of the box, but it feels OK. I’ve always had really loose ankles. It’s a blessing and a curse.”
As the Dodgers again winning the NL West became a foregone conclusion, some of the focus had started to shift toward getting players off the injured list and keeping others healthy.
Gallo twice now has escaped injury in the past week. He was removed from the Dodgers’ game on Sept. 7 after being hit by a pitch in the right elbow.
“X-ray was negative. He just said he couldn’t feel his fingers and there was some tingling in there, so that’s why we took him out of the game,” Roberts said at the time.
Joey Gallo grateful to help Dodgers clinch NL West
Gallo’s two-run home run in the second inning broke a scoreless tie and seemingly generated some momentum for the offense in their 4-0 win.
“It’s awesome. To be able to celebrate, that’s what we play for,” Gallo said after the game. “To celebrate with your teammates, your friends, the fans. It’s exciting. I’m glad I could help. Obviously hitting the home run makes me fell good to contribute a little bit.
“But Kersh was lights out, and when you’ve got him on the mound you’ve got a really good chance to win.”
Gallo is batting .173/.287/.420 with three doubles, one triple, five home runs, 15 RBI, a .310 wOBA and 100 wRC+ with the Dodgers.
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