Josh Beckett’s first career no-hitter didn’t turn out so well for one of his catchers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers stormed onto the field after Beckett retired his 27th Philadelphia Phillies hitter in Sunday afternoon’s 6-0 win. The Dodgers’ starting backstop for the game, Drew Butera, escaped the celebration unscathed, but his backup, A.J. Ellis, did not.
Ellis accidentally stepped on Butera’s discarded catcher’s mask, turning his ankle so badly that he was placed on the 15-day disabled list before Monday’s matchup with the Cincinnati Reds.
“My right foot landed right on top of it and rolled it pretty good,” Ellis said, via ESPN.com. “I knew right away that it was more significant than other ankle rolls I’ve had in the past. I’m beyond frustrated.”
Tim Federowicz was called up from Triple-A to replace the veteran catcher, who is hitting just .170 with one RBI in 15 games this season.
Beckett, meanwhile, is expected to make his next scheduled start despite feeling — in his words — “like I got hit by a truck.”
“That’s pretty common the day after,” the right-hander said Monday. “Certainly when I was younger I felt a little bit better than I do coming out of a start now.”
