Brandon Crawford and Gorkys Hernández collided with each other in the bottom of the 4th inning attempting to field a Clayton Kershaw popup. You can watch the play here: Your browser does not support iframes. And here’s a closer look so you can get a better sense of what’s at stake: Crazy collision in the #SFGiants-#Dodgers game. Crawford was actually able to make an out on the play. pic.twitter.com/H84r4XPoF2 — Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) August 14, 2018 To add insult to injury, a run scored and late night buffoon James Corden was compelled to make a joke at his seat: James Corden and friend enjoying the collision that just happened in front of them. pic.twitter.com/S3YajlvAQg — Ryan Walton (@RyanWaltonSBN) August 14, 2018 It’s important to note that James Corden is more popular and successful than any of us, so my bitterness only comes from my presumption that he made a tension-deflating joke at Brandon Crawford’s expense after witnessing an injury collision right in front of his seat. That said, James Corden slander is encouraged. But enough about James Corden. Crawford wound up batting in the top of the 5th and was then replaced by Alen Hanson on defense in the bottom of the 5th which could’ve just been a precautionary move. We simply won’t know until after the game or perhaps tomorrow Crawford’s condition, but given the team’s lack of luck with head injuries this season and given how very badly the Giants need these games (at least, that’s what they’ve said publicly), it should be extremely concerning that Crawford left the game at all. Mac Williamson went back on the 7-day concussion disabled list in the minor leagues because of recurring concussion symptoms. We know that every person reacts differently to them, so let’s hope that 1) Crawford is okay and 2) it’s not a concussion, both for his quality of life and the future of the Giants. POST-GAME UPDATE:<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES — The Giants’ medical staff forbids players from doing interviews while within the concussion protocol, so shortstop Brandon Crawford was not allowed Tuesday to discuss Monday night’s frightful collision with left fielder Gorkys Hernandez. Crawford’s demeanor told the story, however. He joked with reporters and invited them to observe that he was donning his batting gloves and grabbing his fielding glove to go outside for batting practice. Crawford might have dodged the concussion train that has rolled over this team far too often. Then again, the Giants have seen enough delayed symptoms in other players not to get too comfortable saying Crawford will be OK. He did not play Tuesday night, although manager Bruce Bochy had said Crawford might be available to hit if he could get through pregame work without a setback. “He’s doing a lot better today,” Bochy said. “It seems like he’s doing fine.” Crawford and Hernandez collided in short left field as they chased Clayton Kershaw’s blooper down the line in the fourth inning. Hernandez gave way and let Crawford attempt the catch, but when the ball fell, the outfielder instinctively moved forward to retrieve it. That’s when his leg slammed into Crawford’s head. Both went down and stayed down, although Crawford first was able to grab the ball and throw it to third to get Kershaw trying to stretch his RBI double into three bases. Crawford batted in the fifth after saying he was OK, but Bochy removed him upon the advice of head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner, who observed symptoms he now knows all too intimately. “You get to the point where you’ve got to err on the side of caution,” Bochy said. “Could he have gone back out there? Sure, he could have, but Groesch said it would be better to get him out.” Belt returns: The Giants activated first baseman Brandon Belt, a day short of four weeks after he sustained a bone bruise in his right knee running the bases in Seattle. Like Crawford, he began Tuesday’s game on the bench, but entered the game after catcher Nick Hundley was ejected during the melee in the bottom of the seventh. Belt, who singled in the ninth and scored the winning run, will start against lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu on Wednesday night. Briefly: The Giants optioned reliever Pierce Johnson to Triple-A to clear the spot for Belt. ... Will Smith, who recorded his 10th save Tuesday, is the Giants’ first left-hander with at least nine saves in a season since Dave Righetti had 24 in 1991. Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES–Barely 90 minutes after Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford was forced to exit Monday’s game and enter concussion protocol, manager Bruce Bochy was asked if he felt sorry for the Dodgers. After Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw dazzled with eight brilliant innings of one-run ball, interim closer Scott Alexander coughed up the lead as Nick Hundley delivered a go-ahead pinch hit, two-run single in a 5-2 Giants’ comeback win. Surely, Bochy could sympathize with the Dodgers, who recently placed closer Kenley Jansen on the disabled list with an irregular heartbeat. Right? “Excuse me?” Bochy asked. “With the injuries we’ve had? Our closer hit his fist on a door and we lost him. You’ve got to deal with injuries.” Get San Francisco Giants news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Giants HQ newsletter. Five different Giants infielders have combined to miss 141 games this season due to various injuries, but Crawford has been healthy all year. That changed after his head collided with left fielder Gorkys Hernández’s knee while pursuing a fourth inning double. After taking an at-bat in the fifth inning, Crawford was removed from the game, placed in concussion protocol and told he’ll be reevaluated Tuesday. The Dodgers couldn’t deal with Jansen’s absence, but Hundley’s first-pitch single off Alexander helped the Giants overcome Crawford’s. “I know he’s trying to get ahead with the bases loaded and the tying run at third,” Hundley said. “You’re afforded the luxury of being aggressive in that spot.” By downing their rivals in Los Angeles, the Giants climbed to 5.0 games back in the National League West and improved to 60-60 on the year. Though Kershaw frustrated them for eight innings, a four-run rally in the ninth could be a turning point for the Giants’ season. “We’ve got to win games like this to get to where we want to be,” starter Madison Bumgarner said. With two outs in the eighth inning, Hunter Pence worked an eight-pitch at-bat in a pinch hit appearance that drove Kershaw’s pitch count up to 110. Instead of allowing his ace to return for the ninth, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts brought in Alexander. Despite allowing two singles, Alexander induced a slow chopper off Evan Longoria’s bat that could have resulted in a double play. Instead, Longoria beat the throw to first, Austin Slater was hit by a pitch and Hundley authored the game-winning hit. “I’m pumped for Hundo man,” rookie Steven Duggar said. “That was sick. That was awesome.” Five innings after crashing into Crawford, Hernández followed Hundley with an RBI single to add onto the Giants’ lead. Hernández said he turned his left wrist awkwardly after crashing into Crawford, but he felt healthy enough to remain in the game and play a role in the late rally. “I just tried to put the ball in play,” Hernández said. “I know there was two outs and a runner on third and first but I tried to look for a good pitch.” The Giants can’t afford to lose Crawford for an extended period of time, but they can’t afford to lose when Bumgarner pitches, either. Related Articles Former SF Giants exec isn’t buying the A’s relocation threat: ‘It was a mistake to threaten to leave’ Dodgers tag Alex Wood for three home runs, SF Giants fall to 0-4 against rivals in 2021 SF Giants place Ruf on IL, call up Wade, Kapler details plan for Posey SF Giants set rotation for Dodgers series, veteran Scott Kazmir changing roles Kurtenbach: Giants-Dodgers Round 2 will tell us what we need to know about San Francisco The Giants ace matched up with Kershaw for the 11th time in their careers Monday and though Kershaw lasted two innings longer and allowed one fewer run, Bumgarner was happy to sacrifice personal numbers for a team win. “He was better than me tonight, but we were better than they were,” Bumgarner said. “So I guess that’s a good way to put it.” Bumgarner missed the first 60 games of the season with a fractured left pinky, and when he returned to the club, the Giants were 30-30 and optimistic about their chances in the NL West. The team’s winning percentage hasn’t improved over its next 60 games, but after gaining ground again Monday, the Giants are hoping a ninth-inning rally proves there’s some late-season fight left in the group they’ve built around. “It’s been awhile since we’ve had one like that, so it’s good to get one,” Bochy said. “We’ve lost some tough ones, but it’s been awhile since we’ve had a nice comeback.”<doc-sep>
LOS ANGELES–As the Giants waited to welcome one Brandon back to their roster, their attention turned to the health of the Brandon already on the field. As first baseman Brandon Belt (hyperextended knee) played his final rehab game Monday, shortstop Brandon Crawford collided with left fielder Gorkys Hernández while pursuing a flyball and was pulled from the game for precautionary reasons. Crawford was placed in concussion protocol Monday and will need to pass pregame tests to remain active. Manager Bruce Bochy said Crawford was feeling better Tuesday, but even if he is able to suit up, the Gold Glover won’t be in the starting lineup. Neither will Belt, who will sit against Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood but be available to come off the bench and pinch hit. Get San Francisco Giants news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Giants HQ newsletter. The Giants planned to wait until after batting practice to announce the corresponding move, but if Crawford is healthy enough to remain active, reliever Pierce Johnson will likely be optioned to Triple-A. Belt has been sidelined since injuring his knee while running the bases in Seattle July 25. The injury forced him to the disabled list for the second time this season, as he missed 13 games in June following an emergency appendectomy. Despite Austin Slater’s success at first base in Belt’s absence, Bochy said Belt will reassume his starting role Wednesday and play against both right and left-handed pitchers. Slater should see extensive playing time in left field, which is where he’ll start Tuesday against the Dodgers. After Crawford’s head crashed into Hernández’s knee, the shortstop stayed in the game to hit in the top of the fifth inning. Bochy said the Giants medical staff completed initial tests on Crawford before his at-bat, but further tests after he came off the field indicated Crawford needed to enter the league’s concussion protocol. Switch-hitter Alen Hanson will start at shortstop in Crawford’s place Tuesday.