Hamstring injury still bothering Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick
Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick did not play against the Giants because his hamstring was bothering him once again.
Howie Kendrick continues to be bothered by a the left hamstring that has troubled him for most of the month, Manager Don Mattingly said Monday.
Kendrick didn’t start in the Dodgers’ series opener at AT&T Park for that reason.
“Howie’s just not quite 100%,” Mattingly said. “He’s been having to play with a little bit of a governor.”
Through last weekend, Kendrick had played in seven games since returning from the disabled list on Sept. 18. He was batting .250 in those games.
“We’re just having some tightness,” Mattingly said.
With Kendrick unavailable, Chase Utley started at second base.
Scully stays home
Vin Scully was at AT&T Park for the Dodgers’ two previous visits but won’t be in San Francisco to call this series.
The Hall of Fame broadcaster has reduced his travel schedule in recent years. This season, he called road games only in San Francisco and Anaheim.
The decision to not travel for this series was made some time ago, a team spokesman said.
Memory lane
Before the Dodgers played their potential division-clincher Monday at AT&T Park, radio broadcaster Rick Monday reflected on the last time the team secured a National League West title in San Francisco.
That was in 1977.
Monday not only played in the game in question. He hit a two-run home run in a 3-1 victory that clinched the division title for the Dodgers.
“I remember that home run because it was hit in the upper deck,” the former All-Star outfielder said.
The game was played on Sept. 20 in the Giants’ former home, Candlestick Park. Only about 7,000 fans were there but, Monday said, “Seven thousand Giants fans, when the Dodgers are in town, are very loud.”
The Dodgers scored all three of their runs in the second inning against Giants starter Ed Halicki, Dusty Baker doubling home Steve Garvey before Monday homered.
The victory, his 19th of the season, went to Tommy John.
Monday said the Dodgers didn’t do much celebrating on the field, electing to do so in the locker room instead.
“The locker room at the time had a lot of bare concrete,” Monday said.
Dodgers reliever Elias Sosa, still wearing his cleats, slipped on that concrete and injured his wrist.
------------
FOR THE RECORD
Sept. 29, 2 p.m.: An earlier version of this article said that Elias Sosa was unable to pitch in the playoffs after injuring his wrist. He appeared in two league championship series games and two World Series games in 1977.
------------
The only other time the Dodgers secured a playoff berth in San Francisco was in 2006, when they clinched the NL wild card.
Extra bases
Utilityman Enrique Hernandez was activated from the 15-day disabled list, as was expected. Hernandez was sidelined for nearly a month because of a strained left hamstring. … Brandon McCarthy played catch with trainer Stan Conte, marking his first time throwing a baseball since undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery on April 30. McCarthy is expected to return some time next season.
Twitter: @dylanohernandez
Are you a true-blue fan?
Get our Dodgers Dugout newsletter for insights, news and much more.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
