Bogaerts, Fermin removed with injuries during sixth inning in Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- It was a scary moment in the fifth inning at Oriole Park when a 93.5 mph sinker got away from Orioles starter Trey Gibson and hit Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts in his batter’s helmet.

Bogaerts went down on his hands and knees, and he was quickly tended to by Padres head athletic trainer Mark Rogow and manager Craig Stammen.

Bogaerts remained in the game for that inning and later scored his second run of the game, but was replaced by Sung-Mun Song entering the bottom of the sixth.

Stammen said Bogaerts’ condition changed as the game progressed and they decided to pull him for precautionary reasons.

“He was feeling good on the field,” Stammen said. “He was feeling alright, and then he started not feeling as good, a little spasm back here in the neck. So, [we] got him out of the game. He wasn’t feeling so well. We will reevaluate him today and tonight and see if he is available for tomorrow."

Catcher Freddy Fermin was hit by a warmup pitch from Yuki Matsui before the start of the bottom of the sixth. The pitch spiked the ground and hit Fermin in the catcher’s mask. Backup catcher Rodolfo Durán replaced Fermin.

"I didn't see it, but from what I heard, a ball bounced [and] hit him,” Stammen said. “He turned his head and it hit him in the back. He's had a few headshots here over the course of the season so far and just another one [today]. He was a little woozy out there. That'll probably be a little bit more significant than Bogaerts."

On April 15 against the Mariners, Fermin had to leave the game early when he took a foul tip off his catcher’s mask. He was evaluated for a concussion, but initial results came back negative.

Because this is at least the second time Fermin has had to deal with a hit to his head area, Stammen says the Padres must be extremely careful with their backstop.

'We have to be careful with him,” Stammen said. “We've all been monitoring him closely. We just want what is best for him. We can't take any chances, especially at that position at catcher."

Fermin’s workload has increased with starting catcher Luis Campusano on the injured list (fractured left big toe) for an extended period of time. Campusano continues to recover in Arizona, but has yet to be sent on a Minor League rehab assignment.