Nolan Arenado is checked by trainer Keith Dugger after he was hurt fielding a ground ball in the ninth inning. Arenado left the game . (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)
Nolan Arenado tried to field a rocket line drive from Pittsburgh’s Jordy Mercer in the ninth inning Tuesday but he landed on his face diving to the line. It forced the Rockies’ all-star third baseman to leave the game with a head injury.
Arenado was put through concussion test protocols after the game and passed, Rockies head athletic trainer Keith Dugger said.
“He did hit his forehead pretty hard on the ground,” Dugger said. “We’re treating it as a contusion right now. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow. Take it easy at first, then see where we are. But he’s doing well.”
Arenado tried to back-hand Mercer’s shot down the line and the ball hit the heel of his glove. It bounced up in the air as Arenado face-planted in the dirt, and landed beside him.
He was removed from the game and walked off the field.
“He hit his head pretty hard on the ground. At that point there was no sense keeping him out there,” manager Walt Weiss said.
Mercer only came to bat after Wilin Rosario’s error at first scuttled a double-play try. Pittsburgh’s Sean Rodriguez grounded to second base, DJ LeMahieu threw out Francisco Cervelli at second, but Cristhian Adames’ throw to first hit Rosario in the glove and dropped.
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Tags: concussion, Keith Dugger, Nolan Arenado
