Alonso cleared to play after being hit by helmet

DENVER -- Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso, hit in the head by Justin Upton's thrown helmet Saturday, was reevaluated by the team's medical staff on Sunday morning and was deemed fit to play.

"He's fine," said Padres interim manager Pat Murphy.

Alonso left Saturday's 7-5 victory over the Rockies during the eighth inning after he was struck on the right side of his head after Upton flung his helmet in frustration after returning to the dugout after being caught in a rundown on the bases.

Video: SD@COL: Alonso inadvertently hit by Upton's helmet

Alonso was sitting on an elevated bench just behind the rail to the visiting dugout and was actually seated behind Upton at the time.

He was removed from the game for precautionary reasons and was examined by the team's training staff and the Rockies' medical staff which deemed him not to have concussion-like symptoms.

Upton quickly apologized to Alonso, who fell off the bench he was sitting on after being struck.

"We're out there competing and that's a big point in the game and I made a big mistake," Upton said afterwards. "I was pretty upset about it.

"It's childish. I've got to do better than that and not make that mistake again."

After the game, Alonso said he was ready to move on from the incident.

"We discussed that," he said. "I don't think you guys [need to] know what was said. We talked about it, and it's all good."

Alonso wasn't in the starting lineup for the series finale against the Rockies, but it was more because Colorado was sending a left-handed pitcher, Chris Rusin, to the mound than anything else.

The left-handed hitting Alonso often sits against left-handed pitching, as it's a way to get Derek Norris in the game at first base instead of catcher and a way to get rookie catcher Austin Hedges a start behind the plate.

Alonso was available to play if the Padres needed him.