Washington (AFP) – Atlanta’s Charlie Culberson was carted off the field after he was hit in the face by a pitch Saturday in a 10-1 win over the Washington Nationals that clinched the Braves’ Major League Baseball playoff berth.
Culberson remained on the ground bleeding after he was hit below the right eye by a 90 mph (145 Km/h) fastball from Nationals pitcher Fernando Rodney in the seventh inning.
His nose was swollen as the Braves’ medical staff helped him to his feet and put him on a cart, Culberson appearing to give Rodney a thumbs-up sign as he departed.
Braves manager Brian Snitker was ejected for furiously arguing with home-plate umpire Tim Timmons and first-base umpire Bill Welke — who ruled the pitch a strike because they deemed Culberson was still squaring to bunt when he was hit.
“You can’t bunt the ball when the ball’s coming at your face,” Snitker said after the game. “That’s just … my God. I’m not going to get into that …. I mean, I’m sitting there looking at this guy, pool of blood on the ground, come on.”
Snitker did not immediately have details of Culberson’s injuries.
“He’s still being checked out,” he said. “He was good when he went to the hospital, he was alert. We just don’t know the extent of what’s going on yet.
“Just praying for him and his family,” Snitker added. “That’s scary.”
Later in the inning, Ronald Acuna Jr. belted a two-run double to spark a four-run rally.
The Braves are now assured of at least a National League wild card spot and extinguished the Philadelphia Phillies’ dwindling hopes of capturing the NL East division.
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