Tanner Houck acquired stitches and ‘bought fortunate’ after getting hit within the face by a line drive

Pink Sox

Pink Sox supervisor Alex Cora mentioned Houck was aware the entire time following the scary play.

Tanner Houck departed within the fifth inning of the Pink Sox’ win over the Yankees on Friday following a scary play. Erin Clark/Globe Workers

Tanner Houck was in a scary scenario Friday night time when Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka hit a line drive that struck the Pink Sox pitcher’s face, inflicting him to bleed and go away the sport.

Following the Pink Sox’ 15-5 win, Pink Sox supervisor Alex Cora mentioned Houck bought fortunate.

“He was aware the entire time in order that’s good,” Cora advised reporters. “Clearly the minimize. He’s within the hospital proper now getting additional assessments. We’ll know extra clearly on the finish of the night time, however we bought fortunate there.”

Because the group awaits check outcomes, Cora isn’t positive what the extent of Houck’s harm is, saying, “As of now, all I do know is he’s aware.”

“It’s not good. We reacted instantly,” Cora added. “Like I mentioned, he knew the place he was instantly and he saved saying he was fantastic. We’ve simply gotta ensure we gradual him down. I noticed him whereas he was getting stitches. He bought fortunate. Let’s put it that method.”

As Cora talked about, Houck appeared to get fortunate on an unfortunate play within the moments that adopted the scary incident. Higashioka’s line drive got here off his bat at 89.7 mph with the ball showing to hit Houck beneath his eye and on his higher cheek. Houck was instantly bleeding from the play and went down, however was in a position to go away the sphere in lower than a minute after he bought hit.

Houck was instantly recognized with a facial contusion.

Regardless of the scary scenario, Houck remained in good spirits as he was apparently cracking jokes earlier than departing to the hospital, in keeping with Pink Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock.

“It was scary,” Whitlock advised reporters befitting going to go to Houck because the hospital. “Nevertheless it might have been so much worse.”

Nonetheless, that didn’t trigger another Pink Sox teammates, equivalent to Connor Wong, to be involved.

“Clearly actually scary,” Wong advised reporters. “Any time the ball’s hit again in direction of the mound on a line, you’re type of holding your breath. After which if you see it ricochet off within the upper-body, head space, it makes it even worse. And to see him simply curling himself, it simply made all of it worse. I hope he’s doing all proper.”

Houck had a stable outing Friday previous to the harm. He allowed only one run on 4 hits, one stroll, and two strikeouts as he was in line to select up his fourth win of the season.

Houck has pitched higher as of late after struggling within the first month-plus of the season. Whereas he’s gone 0-3 in his final 5 begins, he’s posted a 4.32 ERA whereas permitting 21 hits, eight walks, and has 26 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched.