Ethier’s hitting streak is on hold as he sits out with sore elbow

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Andre Ethier‘s hitting streak was put on hold Wednesday when he was a late scratch from the Dodgers’ afternoon game against the Cubs with a sore left elbow.

Ethier has hit in 29 consecutive games, tying him with Zack Wheat (1916) for second on the club’s all-time list.

He is two games back of Willie Davis, who set the franchise record with a 31-game hitting streak in 1969.

The hitting streak is for consecutive games played, so Ethier’s streak will remain on the line the next time he hits.

Ethier was originally in the Dodgers’ lineup Wednesday, but was scratched about an hour and half before their noon game.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly originally talked to Ethier before posting his lineup.

‘I’d give it [day off] to him if he wanted it, and today was one of those days because last night after the game he felt like he had some stuff going on a little bit with his elbow,’’ Mattingly said. ‘I checked with him this morning to make sure he was OK, and really explained I don’t want him to just go out there if he doesn’t feel like he can’t go out there. He said he was fine to go, ready to go.”

There was apparently a second conference after batting practice, where Ethier had changed his mind.

[Update at 4:38 p.m.: Ethier said he originally hurt the elbow on April 16, when he scored from third on a James Loney bouncer to Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, who fired home. Ethier used a wide slide and reached in with his hand to score.

‘I don’t know if I hyper extended it or jammed my elbow reaching for home plate,’ Ethier said. ‘It’s been on and off the last couple of weeks, but the last couple of days it’s been worse.’

Etheir said he told Mattingly he was willing to risk his hitting streak and pinch-hit Wednesday if the situation called for it.

‘It’s more tender on the throwing than it is the swinging,’’ he said. ‘After I take five or six hacks, it loosens up pretty nicely but throwing is still pretty sore.’

Ethier said he is scheduled to have the elbow examined Thursday after the Dodgers arrive in New York by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the team doctor who happens to be in New York.

‘Hopefully there’s nothing serious he finds, and it’s just a sore elbow or a bone bruise or something,’ Ethier said.]

-- Steve Dilbeck