A.J. Ellis hurts hand on deflected pitch; Dodgers may be down to one catcher

SAN FRANCISCO -- Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis took a deflected pitch off the back of his right hand during Wednesday night's 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants and had to leave the game, casting doubt on his ability to play Thursday.

Because the Dodgers and Giants play a 12:45 p.m. PT game, the Dodgers might have to play the game with only one available catcher, Yasmani Grandal. X-rays on Ellis' hand were negative, he said, but they are being sent to the team's doctors in Los Angeles for further evaluation.

Ellis tested his hand by making a couple of throws to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, and sailed them 15 feet over his head and into right field.

"It's a relief to see them come back negative, first and foremost," Ellis said. "It's pretty sore, and I've got to relearn how to throw a baseball back to the pitcher."

Reliever Chris Hatcher hit Justin Maxwell with a pitch, and the ball deflected off Ellis' mask before hitting the back of his right hand.

The Dodgers' Triple-A club played in Nashville on Wednesday. The team's closest minor league club is in Rancho Cucamonga, a one-hour flight from San Francisco, but Rancho Cucamonga is a Class A team.

"I'll get treatment tonight and come in tomorrow and do everything I can to make sure I can throw in case of an emergency," Ellis said.