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Dodgers juggle lineup another day with Carl Crawford still ill

Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford continues to battle a fever that has kept him out of the lineup the last two games.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford was kept out of the starting lineup for the second consecutive game as he continued to fight a fever Sunday that forced him to an emergency room a day earlier.

“Obviously, it’s still going on, his temperature’s going up and down,” Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said of the .289 hitter who’s stolen 10 bases this season. “Still fighting off an infection … sometimes antibiotics kick in and you know you’re good.”

Before Sunday’s afternoon game against the Cincinnati Reds, Mattingly said the team doesn’t believe it was anything more than a routine illness.

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“He’s been to the doctors. They all feel it’s just a matter of getting” the medicine “in there. With the off day [Monday], we’re assuming he’ll be fine Tuesday.”

The chances of Crawford’s playing at all Sunday appeared highly remote. He entered the Dodgers clubhouse after 11 a.m., and when asked whether Crawford could be used, Mattingly, “We’ll wait and see.”

Crawford’s absence caused Mattingly to shift Mark Ellis to leadoff, Jerry Hairston Jr. to left field, batting fifth, with .262-batting Juan Uribe at third base. The offense was further watered down with backup catcher Tim Federowicz starting.

“We’ve been doing that all year. Guys get sick and hurt,” Hairston said. “You make do. I’ve been doing this most of my career. I try to prepare myself, knew I had a chance to be in there with a lefty.”

Cincinnati’s Tony Cingrini, “going. I just try to stay ready, it doesn’t matter where I’m asked to play.”

The Dodgers starting lineup for Sunday: 1. Mark Ellis, 2B; 2. Yasiel Puig, RF; 3. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B; 4. Hanley Ramirez, SS; 5. Jerry Hairston Jr., LF; 6. Andre Ethier, CF; 7. Juan Uribe, 3B; 8. Tim Federowicz, C; 9. Chris Capuano, P.

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