SAN FRANCISCO -- Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake, who already was on the 15-day disabled list earlier this season with a lower-back/rib-cage injury, was out of the lineup for the second game in a row on Monday night against the San Francisco Giants because of soreness in his left thigh.
Blake has had difficulty running since a game-ending collision with San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley, resulting in Headley being called out for interference as Blake tried to field a ball hit by Cameron Maybin with the bases loaded in which Blake had no chance to throw out the speedy Maybin at first.
Blake hasn't played since.
"Casey was a little worse overnight,'' manager Don Mattingly said before the Dodgers beat the Giants 6-1. "He was having trouble running and going side to side. [Trainer] Stan [Conte] was a little concerned, I guess, that the area could pull up a little bit and keep him out for a long time. So I guess we'll just go day to day from there.''
Mattingly said Blake, who is 4-for-11 in the three games he has played this season, was available to pinch hit.
Tony Jackson covers the Dodgers for ESPNLosAngeles.com. Follow him on Twitter.