Dodgers: Yasiel Puig OK after fouling ball off foot, leaving game

They can give you pause in a hurry these days, one sudden wrong turn or foul ball or pitch thrown a tad awkwardly.

The Dodgers start their postseason Thursday and their primary focus this last week of the regular season has been health.

So when star rookie Yasiel Puig fouled a pitch off his left foot in the fifth inning Friday night and limped away from the plate, you could almost sense everyone on the team, in the front office and in the stands, take a sudden sharp breath.

Puig completed his at-bat, but then did not return to right field. This time of year –- the postseason assured, home-field advantage lost –- there is absolutely no reason to take any chances.

Puig left the game and had X-rays, allowing all to exhale when they came back negative.

Manager Don Mattingly said Puig came out later and was in the team postgame line to shake hands after the 11-0 victory over the Rockies.

“I’m assuming he’s good,” Mattingly said.

Mattingly said he would wait until Saturday to see how Puig was feeling before determining whether he would play.

The Dodgers are already down one outfielder, with Andre Ethier out because of shin splint symptoms above his left ankle.

Infielder Nick Punto was also a late scratch with an ingrown toenail. Punto said after the game he could play Saturday, but will probably wait another day.