Dodgers score 10 off Redman in first, win big
Kemp hits grand slam as Rockies' left-hander needs 45 pitches to get 3 outs
 | The Dodgers' Matt Kemp, center, is congratulated by Juan Pierre, left, and Brad Penny after hitting a grand slam against the Rockies in the first inning Saturday. |
Mark J. Terrill / AP |
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LOS ANGELES - Brad Penny had just stepped out of the shower area in the clubhouse when a replay of his 96-mph fastball crashing into umpire Kerwin Danley’s mask with a sickening thud was showing on the wide-screen TV.
Catcher Russell Martin followed Penny out of the showers and also watched again as Danley lay nearly motionless on the field before being placed into an ambulance and driven through the center-field gate.
Nothing else that occurred in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 11-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night mattered at that moment — not the 10-run first inning against Mark Redman, not Matt Kemp’s first big league grand slam, not Penny’s 1,000th career strikeout.
“I felt horrible when it happened,” Penny said. “I hope he’s all right. They gave us an update that he was, so I wish him my best. He was talking when he left, so I felt pretty good about the fact that he was all right. The hospital called and said he was doing fine.”
Danley, the crew chief, was struck on Penny’s first pitch of the fourth inning, which Martin completely missed because of a botched sign.
“It sounded like he got hit with a Mike Tyson uppercut,” said Martin, who won his first Gold Glove last season. “I was just hoping he was all right. That ball hit him square in the mask. He probably got a concussion. I was just hoping that he was still breathing. I told him ‘I’m sorry’ a couple of times, but I don’t know if he heard me.”
Crew members Brian Runge and Greg Gibson rushed to Danley’s side at home plate, and first base ump Angel Campos hustled back into the umpires’ dressing room adjacent to the Dodgers’ dugout to put on the gear to call balls and strikes. The game was delayed 18 minutes.
“He was out for a little bit on the field, so this is all just precautionary and I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Gibson said. “I’ve had three concussions myself, so it’s a scary thing. I’m just glad that everybody responded as quick as they did.”
Dodgers trainer Stan Conte and other medical personnel accompanied Danley on the ride to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was taken for precautionary reasons.
“He wanted up,” said Gibson, who had an escort waiting to take him to the hospital. “It was kind of funny because the Dodgers’ trainer said, ‘I’ve always wanted to tell an umpire what to do, and tonight I’m going to do it. You’re not going anywhere.’
“The Dodgers’ training staff was great,” Gibson added. “His mom was here, which was a concern. So I’m very grateful to them for the support — getting the ambulance and everything they did for us. They’ve just been awesome. We’re a family.”
Runge held Danley’s left hand and patted him on the chest while they waited for the ambulance, and the crowd of 50,469 applauded as Danley was placed into the vehicle. The video board in left field showed Danley being driven out the center-field gate, with the words “Our best wishes to umpire Kerwin Danley,” superimposed at the bottom of the screen.
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