Injuries Are Catching Up to Kinkade

Surprised by Mike Kinkade’s spectacular diving catch of Ricky Ledee’s sixth-inning drive to the warning track in left-center field Tuesday night? So was the Dodger utility player, who has started only two games in the outfield this season.

“I was probably the most shocked guy in the stadium,” said Kinkade, who also made a superb, over-the-shoulder sliding catch in Pittsburgh on Sunday. “There’s not much you can do to prepare for a play like that.”

The play left a huge abrasion on Kinkade’s left forearm, suffered during his skid on the rubber-like warning track in Dodger Stadium. But that wasn’t the worst of Kinkade’s injuries.

He suffered a contusion on his left calf when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning and sprained his right wrist running into the wall in foul territory for a fly ball in the eighth. X-rays of the wrist were negative, but Kinkade was unavailable Wednesday and is doubtful for tonight’s series finale against the Phillies.

“He’s beat up,” Manager Jim Tracy said.

Kinkade’s injuries, coupled with the absence of outfielders Brian Jordan (flu) and Dave Roberts (strained right hamstring), left Tracy with only three sound players on his bench Wednesday night, outfielder Jason Romano, catcher Todd Hundley and infielder Ron Coomer.

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Jordan, who was so sick he remained home during the first two games of the Philadelphia series, took a dramatic turn for the better but was still too physically drained to play. He could return to the lineup by Friday.

“I’m here in spirit, and I got my voice back, but my energy and strength are not there yet,” said Jordan, who hasn’t started the last six games and hasn’t played in the last three. “I just went out to stretch [before the game] and I’m exhausted. I’m ready for bed. Hopefully, I’ll be able to step it up [today].”

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Roberts, sidelined for five games, said he still felt a “twinge” in his hamstring, a condition that has prevented him from running at full speed during pre-game warmups. But Roberts remained hopeful of returning to the lineup by Friday or Saturday.

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Kim Ng, Dodger assistant general manager, was ranked 38th in Sports Illustrated’s list of 101 most influential minorities in sports, and her picture is one of several on the cover of this week’s issue.