Ragans (thumb contusion) exits after taking 92 mph liner off throwing hand

CLEVELAND -- The first nine pitches of Cole Ragans' start on Wednesday afternoon against the Guardians resulted in two strikeouts and the feeling like the Royals were going to get the good stuff from their lefty ace in the series finale at Progressive Field.

Then everything went sideways.

Ragans was hit on his throwing hand by a 92.4 mph comebacker off the bat of José Ramírez, and both manager Matt Quatraro and head athletic trainer Kyle Turner immediately came out to check on Ragans, who sustained a left thumb contusion in the Royals' 10-2 loss at Progressive Field.

After a lengthy visit that included Ragans throwing a few more warmup pitches, with one curveball sailing to the backstop, and Turner trying to massage Ragans’ thumb/palm area, Ragans ultimately remained in the game.

It didn’t last for long; Ragans threw five consecutive balls, walking David Fry and falling behind to Chase DeLauter. On the next pitch, Ragans got back in the strike zone, but DeLauter sent it to the center-field wall for a two-out, two-run double.

That was it for Ragans, who exited with Turner after just two-thirds of an inning and 18 pitches. The Royals did not immediately provide an injury update.

Reliever Luinder Avila came in to provide some length, and it was lucky that he was available Wednesday. Avila threw 73 pitches in a spot start on Saturday, so he’d been unavailable the past few days. But Wednesday was the first day he was fully rested, bringing the Royals’ bullpen back to full strength -- not a moment too soon.

As Ragans entered the dugout, he chucked his glove at the bench, saying everything about how frustrating the way things turned in the first inning on Wednesday.