Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Posted: 2:30 p.m.Updated: 4:46 p.m.
By Jim SalisburyCSNPhilly.com
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.Whew!
That was the general response in the Phillies' clubhouse Wednesday afternoon after pitcher Roy Oswalt escaped injury after being struck in the back of the neck by a line drive off the bat of Tampa Bays Manny Ramirez.
Hes all right, manager Charlie Manuel said. Manny didnt hit it really hard. He hit it OK, but he didnt crush it.
Everyone in Charlotte Sports Park was thankful for that.
The scary incident happened in the fourth inning, one batter after Oswalt had given up a solo home run to Evan Longoria. Ramirez hit a liner back at Oswalt. The pitcher turned and put up his glove but the ball struck him in the back of the neck and head region behind his right ear.
The crowd of 6,613 went silent as Oswalt fell to the ground and held the back of his head. Manuel, pitching coach Rich Dubee and athletic trainer Mark Andersen rushed to the fallen pitcher. Oswalt didnt stay down long. He rose and walked off the field with Andersen.
MLB
He wanted to pitch some more, Dubee said. He asked, 'How many pitches I got?' I said, 'Enough for today.'"
He seemed OK, but weve still got to make sure, Manuel said. Weve got to get him out of there and check him out.
Oswalt was taken to a nearby medical center. An X-ray and CT scan were negative. Oswalt returned to the stadium, showered and drove back to Clearwater with his catcher, Brian Schneider. Before leaving, Oswalt spoke with team official Kevin Gregg.
His demeanor was totally fine, Gregg said. He said he felt fine.
Oswalt iced the area where he was hit. He will continue to be monitored in the coming days.
Theyll watch him to make sure he doesnt have a concussion or any aftereffects, Manuel said. But I expect him to make his next start.
Oswalt ended up throwing 57 pitches. In three-plus innings he allowed four hits and three runs. He struck out four.
It is not uncommon for pitchers and other personnel to get hit in the head by baseballs. Phillies fans will remember the sight of pitcher Norm Charlton sitting on the mound at Veterans Stadium, his forehead bloodied after being hit by a Steve Finley line drive in 1995. Clevelands Herb Score was never the same pitcher after being hit in the face by a liner in 1957.
In 2007, Mike Coolbaugh, a coach in the Colorado Rockies system, was killed when he was struck in the neck by a line drive while coaching first base in a minor-league game. That led to base coaches being required to wear helmets.
Earlier this spring, Luis Salazar, a minor-league coach with the Atlanta Braves lost his left eye when he was hit by a foul line drive.
So you can see why the sight of Oswalt getting hit behind his right ear and going down was so scary. And why everyone around the ballpark was so grateful that he was OK.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com