As fast as the Los Angeles Dodgers got Matt Kemp back from the disabled list, they lost him.
Kemp returned from the 15-day DL on Sunday to take on the Nationals. Performing like he hadn’t missed any time at all, the outfielder went 3-for-4, hitting a double and a home run in his first two at-bats helping the Dodgers top the Nats 9-2.
But in the ninth inning, Kemp injured his ankle sliding into home and limped off the field. The team announced that no X-rays are scheduled, and manager Don Mattingly doesn’t expect his center fielder to miss any time because of the apparent sprain.
“It’s not bad. I hope it’s not bad,” Kemp said. “The biggest thing will be tomorrow when I wake up and see how it feels.”
Kemp has already missed time this season because of a hamstring problem earlier in the year, and his most recent DL stint was due to soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder. The 28-year-old had the shoulder procedure done during the offseason.
Check out the cringe-worthy slide below.