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Lyles exits after liner hits hand; X-rays negative

ANAHEIM -- Right-handed starter Jordan Lyles had to leave Wednesday night's 2-1 Rockies loss at Angel Stadium after taking an Albert Pujols line drive off his pitching hand during the last out of the first inning.

X-rays on Lyles' right hand revealed no fractures, the club said, although he did suffer a contusion. Lyles plans to make his next start on Monday against the Phillies.

Lyles' follow-through left him with his back to the plate, and Pujols' drive caromed off Lyles and to second baseman DJ LeMahieu on a hop. LeMahieu threw Pujols out at first. Lyles looked at his hand after the ball struck him, then walked slowly and deliberately off the field after the play was made. By the time Lyles reached the dugout, his right hand was swelling considerably.

"I'm just going to try and get the swelling down, and I plan on making my next start," said Lyles. "I'm thankful it's not broken. That's the bright side."

Last season, Lyles fractured his left hand while covering the plate on a wild pitch June 4 against Arizona, and he missed 54 games before being reactivated on Aug. 6.

"I didn't have many positive thoughts walking to the dugout [Monday], because I was thinking of that time."

Right-hander Christian Bergman replaced Lyles to start the second inning, and he pitched 5 1/3 innings of very good relief, allowing one run on three hits.

Earl Bloom is a contributor to MLB.com.
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