Max Muncy avoids serious injury after violent collision in Dodgers’ loss

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy appeared to escape serious injury after being involved in a violent collision during a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Thursday. Although Muncy left the game after colliding Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he thinks Muncy will be available to play over the weekend. Muncy won't play Friday against the Angels, but that was already the plan. “The head got banged up a little bit,” Muncy said after the game, a cut on the brim of his nose still visible. “I think it was my glasses, maybe, that cut my nose. I'm not entirely sure. And then as I was on the ground, just had shortness of breath. Once I was able to kind of get my breath back, then I was able to get off the field." The play started with Muncy hitting a ground ball up the first-base line. Vargas fielded it behind the bag. From there, it was a footrace in what was going to be a close play. They reached the base at about the same time, both running hard. The collision sent them both sprawling. Muncy’s helmet and glasses went flying. Vargas dropped the ball. “I saw him in foul territory, so I got to the inside of the bag, and I thought he was going to stay on that side,” Muncy said. “It felt like neither of us knew which direction we were going to go, and then we both went the wrong direction. And bang. “Obviously, I really hope Vargas is OK. I sent something over to him. I'm hoping he's doing all right, and he's not too bad.” Vargas was bruised, but he told Arizona reporters that all tests came back negative.