© John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
SAN FRANCISCO – Austin Slater has quietly been nursing an elbow injury for around a month. Slater exited Friday night’s game against the Dodgers in the bottom of the fourth inning after aggravating his elbow on a throw.
In the top of the third, Slater picked up single from Manny Machado in left field and had a chance to throw out Kiké Hernandez at the plate, but his throw sailed way offline and Hernandez scored.
According to manager Bruce Bochy, Slater strained his right elbow on the throw, forcing Bochy to remove Slater for a pinch-hitting Kelby Tomlinson and eventually Gregor Blanco in left field.
“He just couldn’t swing,” Bochy said. “That’s why I had to make a move there.”
Slater said the injury has been bothering him “on and off” for about a month and said he will receive an MRI on his elbow, but is unsure what the severity of the injury is.
He was replaced at the plate by Tomlinson in a bases-loaded, one-out situation, with the Giants tied at 1-1 with the Dodgers. At first, Tomlinson tried to lay down a safety squeeze, but missed. On the next pitch, he swung away and grounded into a double-play ball to end the fourth inning. It was one of five double plays the Giants hit into on Friday.
