A’s Bassitt takes line drive to face
Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt was struck below his right eye by a hard line drive and exited Tuesday night’s game against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on an emergency medical cart.
Bassitt was struck by a 100-mph line drive off the bat of Sox center fielder Brian Goodwin in the second inning. He fell to his knees with his face down on the pitcher’s mound, not moving from that position for several moments before standing up with help from team trainers and the medical staff while holding a bloodied towel to his face.
He was conscious and aware on his way to the hospital, the Athletics said.
“We don’t think the eye is a problem at this point,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said after the game. “Felt like it was below it. He’s got some cuts and used some stitches. He’s in a scan, and we’ll know about potential fractures [Wednesday].”
Bassitt, an All-Star and Cy Young contender, entered the game with a 12-3 record and 3.06. ERA.
Goodwin’s hit went for a single. Players from both teams were shaken as a hush came over the crowd while Bassitt received attention. Goodwin walked to the Sox’ dugout and was consoled by teammates while A’s relief pitcher Burch Smith took his warmup pitches.
“I’m trying to think if there’s anything scarier than that,” manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s the No. 1 concern. I certainly hope that he caught a break and he’s OK.”
A 16th-round draft pick by the Sox in 2011, Bassitt was traded to the A’s in 2014.
Goodwin’s single loaded the bases, and the Sox scored five runs in the inning on Andrew Vaughn’s two-run single and Jake Lamb’s three-run homer against Smith.
Grandal steps up rehab assignment
Catcher Yasmani Grandal’s injury rehab assignment was transferred from DoubleA Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte. La Russa gave no indication how many games Grandal, who had knee surgery July 7, will need before rejoining the team.
“Because of the catching position and all the different things you have to do as a catcher, plus the hitting, it’s a different evaluation and he’s got more to show,” La Russa said.
This and that
Right-hander Evan Marshall (strained
flexor pronator) threw all of his pitches in a 25-pitch bullpen Monday and is getting closer to a minor-league rehab assignment. Marshall touched 90 mph in each of his last two bullpens.
Luis Robert, eight days removed from coming off the injured list, had a planned day off and likely will play the last games of the series Wednesday and Thursday, La Russa said.
The Sox lead the majors with 71 home
runs since June 30. Jose Abreu notched his sixth season of 25-plus home runs, the third-most in Sox history. Paul Konerko and Frank Thomas share the franchise record with 10.
Reynaldo Lopez is 1-0 with an 0.82 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 11 innings over three starts. He extended his scoreless-innings streak against the A’s to 14. “I have the confidence to throw any pitch in any count,” Lopez said.