New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada took the brunt of a hard slide from Los Angeles Dodgers second basemen Chase Utley and the diagnosis isn’t pretty.
The 7th inning was a wild one during the New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers NLDS playoff game. The Dodgers poured on a handful of runs to take the lead 5-2, but this one included plenty of controversy, though.
While going for a double play attempt, Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada received the ball at second base and proceeded to attempt to turn around and throw the ball to first base. However, Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley came in with a questionable slide, going down on both knees to take out Tejada and prevent the double play. Tejada would have to be carted off the field and his left right was placed in an air cast.
Unfortunately, the diagnosis on Tejada’s leg is not a good one.
Ruben Tejada fractured right fibula.
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinMedia) October 11, 2015
This is brutal news for the Mets and Tejada. He had come into his own this year with his bat, as well as his glove at shortstop. Now he’ll be forced to sit in the dugout for the remainder of the Mets’ 2015 postseason.
All the talk in baseball circles will be about this play. Was Utley’s slide clean? Was this a dirty move? Should a rule be put in place to protect infielders at the base, similar to catchers? This will all unfortunately overshadow the baseball game as the weekend progresses.