Dodgers OF Scott Van Slyke injures neck in taxi incident

Kirstie Chiappelli

Dodgers OF Scott Van Slyke injures neck in taxi incident image

Before Scott Van Slyke could make it to his game against the Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, the Dodgers outfielder sustained a neck injury when a cab he was riding in stopped suddenly.

Van Slyke struck his head on the partition between the front and back seats when the driver slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of them.

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"It's just real sore," Van Slyke told ESPN.com before the game. "I kind of just got some whiplash. I feel like it shouldn't have happened at all. He kind of just stopped quickly. There was a car in front of us, but he had more time to ease into it."

Nevertheless, Van Slyke was feeling well enough to play in Sunday's finale. He laid down a bunt in the 10th inning that allowed shortstop Jimmy Rollins to advance to third, though he was unable to score. The Dodgers ultimately fell to the Mets 3-2 after newly acquired Mets third baseman Juan Uribe drilled a single off the wall to earn the walkoff win.

"I could barely turn my neck last night," Van Slyke said Sunday. "It's much better today, but it's still pretty stiff. I'm going to try to get as loose as I can and try to hold off my swing until I need to."

Van Slyke, 29, is hitting .254 with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 118 at-bats this season.

Kirstie Chiappelli