Global Courant 2023-04-16 04:08:28
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers rookie reliever Gus Varland was hit on the right hand and then on the jaw with a 105.1 mph line drive by Manny Machado coming out of Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
The scary moment came in the bottom of the eighth. Varland was knocked to the ground by the impact. He sat up dizzily and dropped his glove as two teammates and a trainer ran towards him. He was helped to his knees as he was attended to before being helped off the field.
X-rays were negative and Varland said he felt fine.
“I’m more angry with that slider location,” Varland said after the game. “It felt right out of my hand, it just didn’t come. It came back to me, hit my hand and my chin and my left forearm. It just moved me a little bit. However, I felt fine. I felt like I could have continued, but I think that’s the adrenaline talking there.”
“Don’t center your sliders,” Varland said. “Lesson learned.”
The ball ended up with short stop Willy Adames, who threw out Machado.
The Padres led 8-3 at the time and won 10-3.
___
