Angels' Chase Silseth taken to hospital after being hit in head by teammate's errant throw
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Chase Silseth exited Saturday's game against the New York Mets early due to friendly fire.
Silseth was hit in the back of the head in the bottom of the fourth inning as first baseman Trey Cabbage fired across the diamond in an effort to catch Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was forced into trying to steal third base. Lindor safely made it to third and scored after the ball ricocheted off Silseth's head. It was ruled a throwing error.
The play started with runners on first and second base. As Silseth fired a strike in to Mets batter Daniel Vogelbach, Lindor, who was on second base, took a very large lead that prompted Jeff McNeil to run to second base. With both Lindor and McNeil near second base, Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe made a head-scratching decision to fire the ball to first, presumably thinking McNeil was going to try and run back.
But McNeil stayed at second and Lindor ran for third. Cabbage threw the ball across the infield to try and catch him, but he hit Silseth in the back of the head. Silseth went to the ground after he was hit and clutched his head.
McNeil advanced all the way to third due to the throwing error and no out was recorded. Silseth eventually walked off the field with support on each side.
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Angels manager Phil Nevin said Silseth was alert and talking. The pitcher was taken to a local hospital for testing.
"Scary moment for sure," Nevin said.
The Mets later saw star first baseman Pete Alonso exit the game after he was hit by a pitch from the Angels' José Soriano in the eighth inning. Soriano's first-pitch 86 mph curveball hit Alonso near the back of the neck.
Alonso exchanged words with O'Hoppe when he got up off the ground, which emptied the benches, though nothing escalated from there.
“I was just trying to defuse the situation,” O’Hoppe said. “I told him we’re not trying to hit him.”
Alonso passed concussion protocol after he was removed.
“I’ve watched a lot of Mets games,” Nevin said. “Pete’s taken a lot of balls up and totally understand that. When you get upstairs a lot, anything is going to set you off a little bit.”
The Angels won the game, 5-3.
Contributing: Associated Press