Ben Rice’s line drive turned a Yankees win into a frightening pause Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
The New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 by erupting for five runs in the 10th inning, and Rice finished with two hits and an RBI in what’s been a breakout season. But the moment that stopped everything came in the top of the sixth, when his 2-2 swing against Reid Detmers sent a shot screaming into the camera well beside the Yankees’ dugout on the first base side.
Play halted immediately as it became obvious the ball had hit a photographer in the head. The delay lasted about 10 minutes, and the scene left Rice visibly shaken.
The injured photographer was eventually able to walk before being taken off the field on a cart while wearing a neck brace. Yankees medical personnel helped provide treatment on the field, and Rice checked on the photographer before play resumed, shaking their hand.
A video posted by Foul Territory showed the aftermath and described it as “A scary scene at Angel Stadium after Ben Rice’s foul ball struck someone in the head in the camera well. The person was able to walk before leaving on a cart.
Rice was visibly shaken and shook the person’s hand before they left the field. pic.twitter.com/mPvWRZ48LZ”
Those kinds of plays are dangerous in a hurry, especially when the ball is coming off the bat at high speed from close range and the person in the camera well may be focused on the shot instead of the pitch. Even with a glove and attention, there’s little time to react.
After the game, Rice said, “Very relieved,” Rice said after the game. “I saw it, he definitely was not ready for any kind of impact there, he was looking the other direction.”
An Angels spokesperson later said the injured party was “OK” and was receiving further medical treatment.
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