May 4, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (14) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
By Alan Robinson, The Sports Xchange
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong was hit on the left side of his face by a pitch from Colorado Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles in the second inning Monday and left the game.
Vogelsong was struck near his left eye — the ball may have glanced off slightly off his batter’s helmet — by a 92-mph two-seam fastball and immediately dropped to the ground. Home plate umpire Jeff Nelson quickly waved to the Pirates’ bench for assistance.
A trainer applied a towel on the left side of Vogelsong’s face, which appeared to be bloody. The right-hander remained in the batters’ box for several minutes, and he was slightly off balance as he clutched the towel to his face while getting into a cart to be taken off the field.
Vogelsong, making his second spot start of the season because of a rainout Sunday, gave up two hits and no runs in his two innings of work.
