Matt Moore Struck In Head By Line Drive

Mar 18, 2014; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore (55) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Ray’s starting left-hander Matt Moore was struck in the head by a line-drive in Sunday’s spring training game against the Boston Red Sox. Moore recovered quickly from the initial shock, and was actually able to finish off the play with an underhand flip to first base for the out. The hit, off the bat of Xander Bogaerts, brought back memories of last season, when another Ray’s pitcher, Alex Cobb, was struck by a liner against the Kansas City Royals.

Bogaerts was the final out in the fourth inning, and the play marked the end of Matt Moore’s day. He left the field under his own power, and was met by the training staff (blood could be seen on Moore’s face). Moore’s scare comes less than a week after Cincinnati Red’s pitcher Aroldis Chapman was hospitalized after taking a line-drive to the face, which resulted in Chapman needing a metal plate implanted in his forehead. The Rays went on to defeat the Red Sox by a score of 9-2.

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