LOS ANGELES — The Giants not only lost a third straight game to the Dodgers Saturday night, they also may have lost their starting third baseman. Again.
Evan Longoria exited in the third inning after hustling down the first-base line. The club later announced a right hamstring strain, which he’ll undergo further evaluation for on Sunday.
Longoria limped out of Dodger Stadium after the loss and is “likely” headed for the injured list, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him after the game, but I know he’s really frustrated,” Kapler said. “It’s hard when your body doesn’t cooperate with you and it’s just kind of one thing after another. Hasn’t been able to get over the hump.”
When healthy, Longoria has been productive at the plate and a stabilizing presence at the hot corner. In 49 games, the infielder is hitting .243 with nine home runs and a .790 OPS.
An IL stint would be the third of Longoria’s season. The 36-year-old veteran had just returned from a mild oblique strain on July 16.
The first 10 of Longoria’s 15 seasons — all with the Tampa Bay Rays — came with a mostly clean bill of health. But since coming to San Francisco in 2018, a variety of injuries have prevented Longoria from playing every day.
“I feel for him as a friend, I feel for him as a player, and I feel for us because obviously he’s really important to our club,” Kapler said. “Hitting right in the middle of our lineup and playing third base for us, and doing a really nice job. Sucks for us, sucks for him.”
Infielders Tommy La Stella and Brandon Crawford are already on San Francisco’s injured list. Crawford took ground balls for the first time on Saturday as he tries to put lingering knee issues behind him. La Stella was playing in his second rehab assignment after spending time on the COVID injured list.
Longoria’s unavailability could prompt SF to bring back La Stella quicker than previously scheduled, though Sunday’s starter Clayton Kershaw isn’t a good matchup for the left-handed hitter. La Stella was supposed to be re-evaluated after a third rehab game Sunday.
Longoria pondered about his baseball future earlier this season with the San Francisco Chronicle. If this is in fact his last season, it may go down as a painful one.