A Dodgers team scuffling to get back in the division race and battling numerous injuries was dealt another blow Wednesday when catcher Russell Martin was placed on the 15-day disabled list with labral tear on his right hip.
The Dodgers had previously called up catcher A.J. Ellis on Wednesday, knowing Martin would miss at least some time, and sent down Xavier Paul.
With Martin going to the DL, just before the game the Dodgers activated outfielder Reed Johnson, who had been on the disabled list with a sore back.
Martin injured his hip in the second inning Tuesday, trying to tag up from third on a shallow fly to right.
Martin did not slide, clipped the back of catcher Nick Hundley’s foot as he went by and then landed hard and awkwardly on his right leg, seeming to jam the hip.
Martin fell to the ground, but remained in the game until the seventh inning. According to the Mayo Clinic, labral tears can take from a few weeks to heal but sometimes require arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn portion of the labrum.
Martin's agent, Matt Colleran, told Times beat writer Dylan Hernandez it was undetermined whether the injury would require surgery.
"There are going to be some consultations with some specialists about it," Colleran said. "They're not saying he's going to need surgery, they're not saying he's not.
"That's not going to be decided until he meets with those people.''
Johnson completed a two-day rehab assignment at Class-A Inland Empire in San Bernardino on Tuesday, going 3-for-6 with a double.
"I’m ready to go,’’ Johnson said. "I feel good.’’
There was some good medical news. Shortstop Rafael Furcal admitted "I was afraid’’ when his back stiffened up on him so severely after Monday’s game he had trouble walking, but said Wednesday his back had progressed to the point where he hoped he could return in three to five days.
Furcal said the back pain is in the same area where he had surgery in 2008. An MRI taken Tuesday showed no structural damage but a strain.
"I didn’t really feel anything during the game,’’ Furcal said. "Then when I got home I was sitting on the couch to watch TV, and I couldn’t get up. Then all night I could not sleep. In the morning I was so stiff. I feel so bad, I remember the first time I had surgery.
"[Tuesday] was tough. I was afraid. Then I had the MRI and today I feel a little better.’’
Furcal said until he had the MRI, he briefly feared his career could even be over.
To make room for Ellis, who hit .286 in 49 at-bats during his previous stint here, the Dodgers elected to send Paul back down rather than designate Garret Anderson for assignment.
In his two times up with the Dodgers, Paul hasn’t exactly embraced his opportunity. He hit .231 with eight doubles and 11 RBI in 121 at-bats.
Anderson, however, is hitting .184 and has six doubles and 12 RBI in 152 at-bats.
-- Steve Dilbeck
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