News
Edgar Gonzalez carted off after beaning
Adrian leaves game to be with brother after fastball to helmet
By Sandy Burgin / Special to MLB.com
07/19/09 2:12 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- Padres second baseman Edgar Gonzalez was taken off the field on a cart Saturday night after being hit on his helmet by a fastball from Rockies starter Jason Hammel in the bottom of the sixth inning."He was transferred to Scripps Memorial Hospital [La Jolla]," said Padres manager Bud Black after the game. "He was to undergo some tests over there, cat scans. What I know, just from on the field from what the trainers said prior to him leaving the park, was that he was conscious, he was lucid, he knew what had happened.
"He was extremely dizzy. His ears were ringing, but he was aware of what was going on."
Gonzalez's condition is still to be determined.
"He is over there getting a workup, we will know more as the night goes on and there will be more to report in the morning," Black said.
Edgar's brother, Adrian Gonzalez, went with him to the hospital, deciding to leave the game after the sixth inning.
"I think that was the thing to do mentally for Adrian," Black said. "His mindset was probably with his brother."
Edgar Gonzalez turned his right shoulder trying to get out of the way of Hammel's pitch when it hit him on the side of the helmet. He went down in a heap as the Padres medical staff came rushing to home plate.
Edgar Gonzalez was on the ground for nearly five minutes before he sat up. He was then helped to his feet by Padres trainers Todd Hutcheson and Paul Navarro, who held him up and helped him to the cart, which then left the field for the hospital.
Gonzalez was the third batter hit by Hammel in the game.
However, Black was quick to point out that in no way was Gonzalez, who had had two singles in his first two at-bats, hit intentionally.
Black noted that both Will Veneable (in the first inning) and Kyle Blanks (in the fourth) had been hit with breaking balls.
"Obviously you don't want to see that happen," Hammel said. "I hope he's alright. I'll be checking in on him for sure."
Sandy Burgin is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
