There was a scary moment on Thursday night in Anaheim, when home plate umpire Paul Emmel had to leave the game after getting hit in the head on a backswing by Angels pinch hitter Jefry Marte.
Umpire leaves game bloodied after getting struck by an errant bat
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
With two outs in the ninth inning and the Athletics up 5-4, Marte swung and missed at the first pitch he saw from Oakland closer Sean Doolittle, but in doing so let go of the bat, which flew backward and hit Emmel in the head.
Emmel immediately fell to the ground and was bleeding, possibly the result of Emmel’s mask after getting hit by the force of the bat. Fortunately, he was able to leave the field on his own power and was taken to the clubhouse.
Scioscia, on the Emmel situation: "It's scary, no doubt." Said he's with #Angels doctors now and looked OK. Will need stitches.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 24, 2016
Emmel going to hospital for stitches but he's ok.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) June 24, 2016
Third base umpire Quinn Wolcott put up the protective gear to take over behind the plate in relief of Emmel. His relief work lasted all of one pitch, as Marte popped out to end the game.
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