NEW YORK (AP) -- David Wright sustained a concussion after being hit squarely in the helmet by a 94 mph fastball from Giants starter Matt Cain on Saturday, and the Mets third baseman was expected to spend the night in the hospital.Wright was examined in the clubhouse before being taken by ambulance to the Hospital for Special Surgery. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Wright had a CT scan, which was negative.
The Giants beat the Mets 5-4 in 10 innings.
Wright didn't have time to react to Cain's 0-2 pitch in the fourth inning. It hit him just above the brim of the helmet, sending it flying as Wright fell to the ground in the right-handed batter's box.
"Those are frightening moments for everybody,'' New York manager Jerry Manuel said.
Wright lay motionless on his stomach for more than a minute before trainers helped turn him onto his back. One trainer kneeled by Wright's side and talked to him. After Wright was turned over, he sat up and a trainer shone a light in his eyes.
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Chicago White Sox' Gordon Beckham swings for a two-run RBI double off Oakland Athletics' Santiago Casilla in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
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Oakland Athletics' Gio Gonzalez, right, is visited on the mound by catcher Kurt Suzuki in the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
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San Francisco Giants' Aaron Rowand, below, is forced out at second base as New York Mets second baseman Argenis Reyes is unable to throw to first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Chicago White Sox second baseman Jayson Nix completes a double play throw over Oakland Athletics' Rajai Davis in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. A's Scott Hairston was out at first base. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
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San Francisco Giants' Ryan Garko follows through on an RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Mets' David Wright is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants' Matt Cain during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Mets' David Wright is checked out by trainers at home plate after being hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants' Matt Cain as Gary Sheffield, above center, and manager Jerry Manuel, second from right, look on during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Mets' David Wright, center, is checked out by trainers as San Francisco Giants catcher Bengie Molina, left, and teammate Gary Sheffield, right, look on fter he was hit by a pitch from San Francisco Giants' Matt Cain during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Mets' David Wright, right, is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants' Matt Cain during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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New York Mets' David Wright is hit with a pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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Manuel said he didn't talk to Wright when was on the ground, but he saw ``his eyes go back and forward a bit.'' Manuel thought Wright said he was all right when he sat up.
Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur visited Wright in the clubhouse, shortly after the All-Star walked off the field with minimal help. Francoeur said Wright made a joke from the Chris Farley movie "Tommy Boy'' about where he was hit in the head.
"He was all shook up when I came in,'' Francoeur said. "He was scared.''
Cain, who had thrown just seven balls in his first 35 pitches, walked halfway toward the plate and sat in a crouch as trainers tended to Wright. Players and managers agreed that Cain wasn't trying to throw at Wright.
Cain and Johan Santana had been locked in a scoreless matchup. Seemingly rattled, Cain gave up a run before settling down and pitching into the eighth.
"He felt horrible,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "That's the last thing he wanted to do, but he regained his composure.''
Said Cain: "It was nice to see him walk off the field. It was definitely a situation where you hoped there's no blood. I'll see if I can get a hold of him tomorrow."
Regardless of intent, Francoeur said something had to be done.
"When the third-hole hitter gets dosed in the head, you got to come back at them a little bit," he said.
And that's what Santana did.
The Mets' All-Star starter threw behind the back of Pablo Sandoval, missing him entirely in the seventh inning and drawing a warning for both teams from plate umpire Brian O'Nora.
Sandoval responded by hitting a home run, boosting the Giants' lead to 4-1. Santana then hit the next batter, catcher Bengie Molina, but wasn't ejected. Bochy came out to argue with O'Nora that Santana should have been tossed.
"He didn't think it was intentional," Bochy said of O'Nara's explanation. "That's his call.''
Wright has played in all but one of the Mets' 116 games this season, and has been a stabilizing force in a lineup ravaged by injuries. He joins Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes among the Mets' injured stars.
"It will be difficult for us. He has played through a number of things -- nagging injuries, fatigue," Manuel said of Wright, who didn't start Tuesday in Arizona because he had a cold. "He was going out there for us every day.''
Fernando Tatis ran for Wright and stayed in the game at third. He had an RBI single during the Mets' eighth-inning rally.
By HOWIE RUMBERG, AP Sports Writer
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-15-2009 @ 7:08PM
papam11 said...
Okay--so how much longer is that idiot Selig going to let this "part of the game" go on before someone really gets hurt? Any pitcher who intentionally throws at someone is a COWARD and should be suspended for weeks, not a few games. How about this for a new rule, designated hitter or not, if a pitcher hits someone, they are automatically the first batter up when it's their team's next turn at bat. Yeah, I didn't think so. I think it's time the batters started loosening their grip on the bat.
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8-16-2009 @ 2:03PM
tonytiger18 said...
Frightening sight to see!!!!
When any player gets clocked by a flying baseball,the first and only concern should be the health of that player!!!! Some of the comments were terrible: that it is part of the game, and that that player or team s...ks, etc. 7& othe silly comments.
Yesterday, three players got hit by baseballs.Fortunately, they all got up, but there will be concern for their future.
I don't sense Cain throwing intentional.
However with Francona and his pitcher, I'm not so sure.
Francona has a history of doing stupid stuff like that. In the last week alone, Arod (twice), Cabrera(twice), Texeira(once), and Kinsler(once) were all thrown at by Red Sox pithers.
In June, he had Penny throw at Arod(twice), Swisher(once)and Jeter(once), all in the same series.
This guy is a menace. He will definitely get a player hurt, maybe even one of his players in retaliation, just like Youkilis.
MLB should examine his action during a game such as this Texas game. They will definitely see dangerous intent.
Hey pampam, throwing a loose bat is stupid and doesn't solve anything.
8-15-2009 @ 7:21PM
ed344mu said...
I guess he wanted to remove the only Major League caliber player the Mets have left. I couldn't see the game , but if this pitcher didn't get drilled then I have no respect for the Mets pitchers!
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8-15-2009 @ 7:49PM
slbakalar said...
Did you people watch this game? Wright was in NO WAY drilled intentionally. Unfortunately it happens, but there is no way Cain tried to hit him. You could tell he felt awful. You want to talk about someone intentionally hitting someone?? Santana attempted and missed the first time, and then hit someone. THAT is ok??
8-15-2009 @ 8:04PM
ed344mu said...
Doesn't matter, the law of the jungle. As a pitcher you're supposed to have sufficient control to enable you to pitch inside without hitting anyone on the head, Like I said, I couldn't see the game but kudos to Santana for tying to avenge it. Having remorse after the act is getting old!
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8-15-2009 @ 8:13PM
slbakalar said...
WOW... must be tough being as perfect as you are. Too bad Santana didn't have good enough control to hit Sandoval .... and good for Sandoval for driving it out of the park when he threw the next pitch.
8-15-2009 @ 8:19PM
BEN said...
HE IS GETTING PAID BIG BUCKS SO GET BACK UP TO THE PLATE AND GET A HIT CRY BABY
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8-15-2009 @ 8:23PM
Chris said...
meet the mutts, meet the mutts, step right up and beat the mutts!
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8-15-2009 @ 8:25PM
my93bella said...
This is not part of the game!!! Any major leage pitcher who cannot control his pitch should not be in the major leages period. I understand once in a while you hit a guy in the elbow or hip somewhere near the strike zone. The head is way to far off to be major leages even once. These guys have been pitching since they were eight and have been reared to be pitchers at the big leage level. this Selig should make a statement and fast regarding such an incident. A 90 mph fastball gives a human about .4 seconds to react and move from 60 feet.Less than 1/2 second!!! Ask anyone who has seen 90 plus and I have it comes so fast you cannot get your melon out of the way. Anybody remember Tony Conigliaro??? I do and what a waste.Do something Bud its happening way too much lately. The Youkilis incident from Boston was a Detroit tactic and always has been.
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8-15-2009 @ 8:48PM
jm27431111 said...
i have no problem with what Santana did.... whether Cain meant to hit Wright or not Santana had to throw at Sandoval... BTW Santana threw where you should not up in the head area
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8-15-2009 @ 9:41PM
Vega said...
protecting your players is part of the game. It's all good, as long as no one aims for the head. Santana threw the ball towards his back. That's okay, as long as it doesn't hit him in the head. This is part of the game, whether you like it or not, but throwing at someone's head is unexceptable.
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8-15-2009 @ 9:45PM
The Elkester said...
I talked to people who saw the game , and they all said he wasn't head hunting , the pitch just got away from him...Now some pitcher's have thrown at batter's , and the biggest just got back into the game WED with the Philly's. Getting hit is part of the game sure some times it's scarey , that's why all the pads and helmets
to protect the batter.
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8-15-2009 @ 10:04PM
banditscards said...
1st, I'd like to say that watching the game and a dozen or so replays, it honestly didn't look as though Cain purposely threw at Wright. And if you look at Cain, he was shaken up and clearly looked concerned about Wrights condition. Not like a pitcher who just decided to hit a batter in the head!
2nd, to all of you who say that a pitcher, a) should have enough control or b) who doesn't have enough control of his pitches should not be in the majors? You really can't be serious?? As a one time HS, college and minor league pitcher myself, getting hit by a pitch IS part of the game and always has been. Intentional or not, pitches can get away from you whether it be sweat, the grip or even a speck of dirt! And it happens to every pitcher at least a few times in their career.
I also feel that if Cain or any pitcher hits a batter intentionally, be it a 90 or a 60 mph pitch, he should be charged with assult with a deadly weapon! PERIOD!! I cann't remember their names but just like when the hockey players got charged. But Cain didn't and everyone should really stop thinking he did and especially saying he did.
1 last thing, I do remember when Tony C got hit but you don't even have to go back that far? Does Kirby Puckett ring a bell?
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8-15-2009 @ 10:12PM
slbakalar said...
Thank you banditscard... nice to hear someone who has a clue about this game.
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8-15-2009 @ 10:15PM
DARK_ANGEL said...
I GOT PISSED OFF WHEN I HERD ABOUT THIS
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8-16-2009 @ 3:23PM
Tyler said...
probably the best internet comment I have read and will read in my life.
8-15-2009 @ 10:30PM
gratedad10 said...
As a die hard Phillies fan I HATE the METS, but I sure hope that David was not hurt too badly. He is a class guy and he plays the game hard. I wish him a speedy recovery. I saw the replay on the TV tonight, and it was really scary. It's a good thing he had a helmet with an ear piece on it. Quick recovery Dave, quick recovery.
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8-15-2009 @ 10:30PM
etrav13 said...
Wishing the best for a healthy prognosis. Hope to see you back in action this week David.
-A Phils Fan
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8-16-2009 @ 12:44AM
Frank and Angela said...
Also a Phillies fan hoping that David Wright bounces right back. We don't like the Mets but we don't want to hurt them, just score more runs.
8-15-2009 @ 10:36PM
Eric said...
A wild pitch happens, and this one is the worst kind. If Cain's pitch had gone wild in the other direction and allowed Castillo to get to the next base or score for the Mets, there wouldn't be any discussion about how Cain shouldn't be in the majors because of his lack of control in this one pitch. Cain is one of the good guys, and visibly looked like he felt terrible about what happened.
The Giants, a team that watched their pitcher Joe Martinez get clobbered by a line drive to his head at the beginning of this season, know exactly how horrible an accident like this is. But that's all it is, an accident
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