Bogaerts back in Padres' lineup day after getting hit in helmet

BALTIMORE -- Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts was in the starting lineup for Sunday’s finale against the Orioles after getting hit in the left side of his batting helmet by a fastball from Trey Gibson in the top of the fifth inning Saturday.

Bogaerts went down in the batter’s box after being struck by the 93.5 mph sinker that got away from Gibson. Bogaerts was examined by manager Craig Stammen and Padres athletic trainer Mark Rogow, and he remained in the game for one more inning before being replaced by Sung-Mun Song.

“He was feeling good on the field,” Stammen said Saturday after the game. “He was feeling all right, and then he started not feeling as good, a little spasm back here in the neck. So, [we] got him out of the game.”

Bogaerts said the hit-by-pitch was the hardest he’s ever been hit in a game because it was a fastball.

“Yeah, it was ugly, you know,” Bogaerts said. “I got hit [with a] Félix Hernández changeup. I feel like I got hit in my head another time. I don't really recall. But this one was [bad].

“I feel pretty all right. I started feeling a little funny afterwards, though.”

He felt good enough to stay in the game but then felt it more when he returned to the dugout after scoring a run.

“I started feeling sort of [a spasm] right away,” Bogaerts said. “Then I was kind of worried. I thought [the ball] never even hit the helmet. That's how hard it was. My helmet [flew] off … that's how hard [it hit]. But knowing that, [having the helmet on] was the key. It would have been so much worse.”