I’m not sure how to explain what happened last night, other than it was one of the most frightening moments that I can recently recall in any professional sport. But I’ll try my best to recount the situation for those not watching as it happened.
In the top of the fourth inning, Giants outfielder Pat Burrell hit a screaming line drive into the Giants dugout that hit Eugenio Velez flush on the side of his head, drilling him directly in his temple. Velez was sitting against the back wall of the dugout when he was hit, but he was screened by members of the Giants leaning on the dugout rail leaving him virtually zero time to get out of the way.
The game was not delayed, and Burrell continued his at-bat visibly shaken while emergency personal attended to Velez. He was transported to a local hospital where tests miraculously showed no serious damage. A CT scan reveled that no fractures (somehow) took place but cautioned still about potential swelling of the brain, so Velez was kept overnight and may be kept even longer once his status is updated today. It really was a terrifying experience, and one that the Giants and Velez are lucky to have not be serious.
As for the game, the Giants continued their winning ways, taking another victory from the D’Backs and improving to 5-1 through six games of this seven game road trip. The score was 1-0 Giants when Velez was hit, but the Giants were able to tack on two runs during that eventful inning with the big blow, a Juan Uribe grand slam, coming in the top of the 7th. The Giants continued their hit parade in the 8th, adding three more, tallying a 10-4 old fashioned laugher victory.
Madison Bumgarner was again terrific, throwing 7 innings of two run ball and his rookie co-star Buster Posey continued his hot pace, extending his hit streak to 17 games. He now is second on the Giants all-time hit streak list for a rookie.
Tim Lincecum attempts to go for the vaulted four game sweep this afternoon.
Original Story:
http://friscofastball.com/2010/07/25/...
