Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was carted off the field in Houston on Sunday after crashing face-first into the left field scoreboard trying to make a catch in the eighth inning of the Angels’ 3-0 victory over the Astros. Ward had his eye on a ball off the bat of Ramon Urias as he raced toward the fence, ran into the metal scoreboard located at field level, and dropped to the ground.
He rose quickly and signaled for help, with Angels personnel and paramedics responding. Ward, who had a cut above his right eye, rested his head on the shoulder of an Angels employee as he was taken from the field on a cart. Ward entered the game batting .228 with 30 home runs and 94 runs batted in. He was 0-for-1 with three walks in the game before exiting.
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Angels outfielder Jo Adell said the positioning of the scoreboard—which shows results of out-of-town games—was dangerous. “He’s doing everything he’s supposed to be doing,” Adell said. “He’s grinding trying to make a play, and something as stupid as that puts him down. He’s got a gash on his forehead. We’re running over to see if he’s OK, and it’s like, ‘What is he supposed to do? Not be aggressive on the play?'”
“He’s supposed to go out there and do what he can to make a play. We were all shook up about it. I mean, you could hear his head hit from everywhere in the stadium if you were even remotely close. It was unfortunate. He’ll be all right though,” Adell added.
Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said Ward was expected to have the cut stitched. The Angels notched their second straight victory behind a dominant performance from pitcher Jose Soriano. He struck out eight and surrendered just one hit over seven scoreless innings. Oswald Peraza hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, and Mike Trout added a run-scoring double in the eighth before scoring on a Lance McCullers throwing error.
© 2024 AFP
