Hanley Ramirez leaves game after three innings with thumb injury

That powerful Dodgers offense still trying to find its stride took a possible step in the very wrong direction Saturday night when shortstop Hanley Ramirez left the game against Colorado after three innings with a right thumb injury.

Nothing immediately seemed unusual when Ramirez grounded out in the bottom of the third. But when he returned to the dugout he was shaking his right hand and quickly examined by trainer Stan Conte.

Ramirez tried gripping a bat and a ball while on the bench and appeared to try to go back into the game to start the fourth, but was held back by Conte.

The Dodgers called it a bruised right thumb, said X-rays were negative and listed him as day-to-day.

Ramirez had surgery to repair a torn right thumb ligament just prior to the start of last season. Ramirez, who bats third in the lineup, was the Dodgers’ best hitter last season when healthy.