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Rockies Pitcher Nicasio Hit in Head by Line Drive

Rockies Pitcher Juan Nicasio Hit by Line Drive

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Juan Nicasio is surrounded by teammates and manager Jim Tracy (4) before medical personnel take him off the field after Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond hit a line drive, hitting Nicasio in the head, during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, in Denver. Troy Tulowitzki (2) takes a knee. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

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DENVER (AP) — Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio has been hit in the head by a line drive and carted off the field.

The right-hander was struck by a ball off the bat of Washington’s Ian Desmond. The ball bounced off the right side of his head with a smack and rolled away over the first-base line.

Nicasio went down and lay flat on the mound for several minutes as he was attended to by training staff. He was moved onto a cart by four medical personnel, helped by teammate Todd Helton and manager Jim Tracy.

Rockies Pitcher Juan Nicasio Hit by Line Drive

He could be seen blinking and moving his hands and legs before he was put on a stability board and loaded onto a cart.

DENVER (AP) — Michael Morse homered and Ian Desmond had four hits, including a liner that hit Rockies starter Juan Nicasio in the head, and the Washington Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 Friday night.

Nicasio was struck in the second inning. The ball slammed into the right side of Nicasio’s head with a smack and caromed away, rolling over the first-base line.

The right-hander went down and lay flat on his back on the mound for several minutes as he was attended to by training staff. He was moved onto a cart by four medical personnel, helped by teammate Todd Helton and manager Jim Tracy.

He could be seen blinking and moving his hands and legs before he was put on a stability board and loaded onto a cart.

Nicasio (4-4) was taken to the hospital where the team said he was resting comfortably and undergoing tests.

Edgmer Escalona relieved and gave up two runs in 4 1-3 innings.

Rick Ankiel had three hits and Ryan Zimmerman and Danny Espinosa had two hits each for Washington. Drew Storen got the last four outs for his 28th save.

Chris Iannetta had three hits and Troy Tulowitzki had two for Colorado, which has lost five of six.

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (7-9) allowed just two hits through the first five innings as Washington built a 4-0 lead. Ankiel and Espinosa each singled to lead off the game off Nicasio (4-4) and Zimmerman tripled to make it 2-0.

They added another run in the fourth when Zimmermann reached on a two-out bloop double and scored on Ankiel’s single to right.

Morse hit his 19th homer with one out in the fifth to make it 4-0.

The Rockies finally got to Zimmermann in the sixth. Helton doubled with one out and Tulowitzki singled to put runners at the corners. Zimmermann struck out Seth Smith before being relieved by Henry Rodriguez.

Chris Nelson greeted Rodriguez with a single to center to make it 4-1. Ian Stewart’s bloop single to center scored Tulowitzki and Iannetta followed with a single to score Nelson to make it 4-3. Pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton walked to load the bases.

Tyler Clippard relieved Rodriguez and worked the count to 3-0 before Young looked at three straight strikes to end the inning.

Morse’s RBI single in the ninth made it 5-3.

Notes: Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez (right wrist strain) was scheduled to play right field for Triple A Colorado Springs as part of a rehab assignment. Gonzalez went 2-for-5 for the Sky Sox in their doubleheader Thursday. … Colorado‘s Jhoulys Chacin will be matched against Washington’s Livan Hernandez in Saturday’s game. Chacin has a career ERA of 3.39, the lowest in franchise history for a pitcher with at least 40 starts. His .214 opponents’ batting average is a franchise best, too. Hernandez was 3-3 with a 8.03 ERA in eight starts for the Rockies in 2008.

Comments (56)

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  • dontbotherme
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:45pm

    That was a hard hit. I hope he’s going to be ok.

    Report Post »  
  • Bushie
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:44am

    Too bad it wasn’t obama throwing out the first pitch.

    Report Post » Bushie  
    • IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:29pm

      NEVER make light of ANYONE being injured.
      I absolutely do not agree with Obama or his policies and I hope he is not re-elected…
      BUT… I would NEVER want him injured… or anyone else for that matter.

      Human life is WAYYYY to valuable. ANY human life. ALL human life.

      Report Post » IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY  
  • Janc60
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:31am

    Denver Post reported this a.m. he is resting comfortably and has an injury to his neck.

    Report Post »  
    • lel2007
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:21pm

      If heard he is suffering some minor brain damage, and is demanding release so he can register as a Progressive Democrat ASAP.

      Report Post » lel2007  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:53am

    Evey Pitchers Nightmare

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
    • J.C. McGlynn
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:33am

      Not just a pitchers nightmare but a hitter’s, as well. This is going to haunt the batter for the rest of his life.

      Report Post » J.C. McGlynn  
  • AB5r
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:50am

    Instead of seeing stars, as a “professional athlete” these days, he saw dollar signs instead. Sure it is a concern to see any athlete get hurt but pros always have their gigantic bank accounts to sooth their pain, unlike amateurs or college athletes playing for the love of the game. I for one have lost interest in pro sports due to the attitudes and the money/business taking it over to such an extent. Maybe the cable channel was able to run a few extra commercials due to this incident, good for them.

    Report Post » AB5r  
    • effvar
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:53am

      AB5R….People like you should be requried to wear a sigh that say’s ” Stay away! I’m a Gutless Idiot!!”

      Report Post »  
    • Seabee79
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:00am

      college athletes playing for the love of the game.

      The college athletes only play for the love of the game so someday they can make that big payday in the pro’s.

      you dumb as$

      Report Post » Seabee79  
    • AB5r
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:18am

      It is so cute all of the fanboys attacking me personally. If I don’t care about overpaid athletes do you think I care about what you meaningless fanboys think? And for the most part college athletics is the same way, what is also funny there is when you hear them interview some of the athletes from top schools and they sound like they wouldn’t be able to spell their own name. Oh yeah, they are getting a lot out of their classes.

      Report Post » AB5r  
    • effvar
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:16pm

      I rest my case.

      Report Post »  
    • AB5r
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:26pm

      “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports … all others are games.”
      - Ernest Hemingway

      Report Post » AB5r  
  • WTSpike
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:50am

    I‘m glad he’s going to be alright. But only time will tell if he ever pitches effectively again. An incident like this just might stay with you for a time. Getting over it and standing in on the mound is going to be a bit of a hurdle. Godspeed, Juan!

    Report Post »  
  • BobNH
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:02am

    And just remember, “THERE’S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL !!!!!!”

    Report Post » BobNH  
  • jason1974
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:36am

    damn!!!! what a shot! looked like it got him in the side of his face

    Report Post »  
  • Jack2011
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:33am

    Don’t follow baseball.

    What are the rules on something like this?

    When the pitcher went down after getting hit with the batter’s ball, the batter kept running around the bases. Does everything stop when someone is injured or does his “homerun” if he made one still count?

    Report Post »  
    • Observer
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:55am

      You don’t stop until the play is over. Same in all professional sports. In fact all sports Americans play………. good luck Nicasino…

      Report Post »  
  • kilwil888
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 3:57am

    Nasty hit Juan. Our prayers are with you.

    Report Post » kilwil888  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:32am

    Prayers to you.

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:01am

    If he’s permenantly injuried will they send him back to San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic? Once you’re injured, sports teams have a habit of disgarding you. Hope he gets well soon.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
    • JBates
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:09am

      Geez…really? Nice compassion.

      Report Post » JBates  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:17am

      Well, they do! And I did say, I hoped he gets well soon. Or did you not read the last sentence?

      The-Monk  
    • UBETHECHANGE
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:31am

      You sound like an atheist.

      Report Post »  
    • mlcblog
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:44am

      Not the time to say that.

      Report Post » mlcblog  
    • Jack2011
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:28am

      He was being sarcastic. It looks like he supports the guy.

      Report Post »  
  • ProudMinnesotan
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:59am

    However; with that being said; I hope people realize the beauty of baseball; sports can bring people together and make them realize that were not that different. I’m a democrat who will more than likely vote for Obama in 2012; that doesnt mean I wouldn’t watch a ball game with a conservative, politics are only a small part of our lives that people use to set up barriers. Baseball and things related are examples of how petty our differences are…… and once again Go Brewers.

    Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:15am

      The purpose of sports is to keep the population so occupied that they don’t know what their politicians are doing. If only we could stop all sports for one year… came close with football this year and maybe basketball also. Get off the couch…

      Of course this Dem wants to watch a ball game with a Repub… “said the spider to the fly”….. “come into my parlor”…. “and you will forget about politics”……

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • Gorp
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:19am

      I’m a proud Minnesotan also. I don’t watch sports and would not have known about this had it not been for the Blaze. I hate to see things like this happen and hope and pray for a complete recovery for him.

      That being said, I’m not sure where being a democrat and voting for Obama should come into the conversation. Being a democrat and voting for Obama has nothing to do with sports unless it’s like watching NASCAR and hoping for a huge fireball of an accident. Voting for Obama again will cause a HUGE fireball of an accident to happen to this country. But then again, this has nothing to do with sports.

      Report Post » Gorp  
  • Speakin'mymind
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:25am

    Unbelievable line drive to the head. Thoughts and prayers are with Nicasio for a full recovery.

    Report Post »  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:04am

    Ow.

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:19am

      Did he see stars are tweeting birds?
      I pray he will be back in the game soon.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
  • RickWS
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:36pm

    And I bet Jim Tracy still didn’t pull him. He couldn’t manage a pitcher to save his life!

    Report Post » RickWS  
    • ProudMinnesotan
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:56am

      I know this is hypocritical to my username……….. GO BREWERS!!! my thoughts are with him and his family.. I hope he has a speedy recovery.

      Report Post »  
  • rbosque
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:29pm

    Ouch. Hope he comes around and is OK.

    Report Post » rbosque  
  • db321
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:29pm

    That was a solid hit off the bat – Hang in there Jaun – We all pray for speedy and full recovery.

    Report Post » db321  
  • 66 bronco
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:28pm

    The average baseball fan doesn’t realize how fast the ball comes back to the pitcher. Once the pitcher releases the ball they have about a second to process if the batter hit the ball and where it’s going. Unfortunately most of the pitcher are in an compromised fielding position, not just make a play but even to protect themselves from hit ball like that! I sure hope and pray the pitcher will be OK but I doubt he’ll ever pitch the same…. Bob Feller never did. I hope he proves me wrong and comes back 100%!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Seasoldier
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:27pm

    That reminded me of the Yankees‘ Gil MacDougald’s line drive that hit Herb Score in eye in 1957. I saw it happen on TV. Score came back, but he was never quite the same power pitcher he had been up to then. MacDougall was shaken up by the event as well. “If Herb loses the sight in his eye, I’m going to quit the game,” he said in an interview afterward. Let’s pray for both players involved in this horrific accident.

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:19pm

    Al Gore will blame it on Sun spot flares and Global warming.
    Cass SUNstein will now require all pitchers to wear Catchers masks.
    And, I do hope he’s OK. At least someone like him making all that money can afford Health Ins.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
    • GABOB
      Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:50pm

      No, the left will blame it on Bush.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:47am

      @GABOB
      Is that because these were Bush league players?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • Mtroom
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:16pm

    it look’d to me that he was talking when the trainer got there…should be o.k. ..but yeah…that was a ruff one

    Report Post » Mtroom  
    • ecurbyy
      Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:23pm

      I’ve just recently started watching baseball, and I’ve noticed that every player seems to wear some sort of protective gear except the pitcher. Why is that I wonder.

      Report Post » ecurbyy  
    • Mtroom
      Posted on August 6, 2011 at 1:07am

      the issue has come up about protective gear before….the main issue is though..over the years pitchers are throwing harder than ever before …most are throwing in the low 90 mph range now on average..and the batters are getting stronger…i think MLB has been a little slow to that fact in protecting players…but that’s just my opinion

      Report Post » Mtroom  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:11pm

    Hope and pray he’s o.k.. sometimes sports are very scarey.

    Report Post »  
  • godhatesacoward
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:08pm

    Baseballs actually have alot of give. As does the human body. He should be fine. But, damn that’s gonna leave mark.

    Report Post » godhatesacoward  
    • Pujols
      Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:13pm

      Not everyone comes back fom a line drive. Juan from the Cardinals didn’t. He was hit by His own team mate in the batters circle. Miles foul ball hit Him. He just wasn’t looking. Sad day for My friend.

      Report Post »  
    • godhatesacoward
      Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:25pm

      @ puj I know the unexpected does happen. I just hope and pray my assesment of the video is correct.

      Report Post » godhatesacoward  
  • hersey10
    Posted on August 5, 2011 at 11:00pm

    Say a prayer for him .

    Report Post » hersey10  
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