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Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Gus Varland reacts after being hit by a comebacker from San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 15, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers rookie reliever Gus Varland was hit in the right hand and then his jaw by Manny Machado’s 105.1 mph line drive and exited Saturday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
The scary moment came in the bottom of the eighth. Varland fell to the ground due to the impact. He quickly got up and dropped his gloves as two teammates and a trainer rushed to his side. He was helped to his knees as he nursed before being helped off the field.
X-rays were negative and Varland said he feels OK.
“I was more upset with that slider location,” Varland said after the game. “My hand feels great, it just doesn’t come off. It came back to me, hitting my hand and my chin and my left arm. I just got a little carried away. I still feel better. I feel like I could have kept going but I think that was the adrenaline talking there.
“Don’t hang your sliders in the middle,” Varland said. “Lesson learned.”
The ball went to shortstop Willy Adames, who struck out Machado.
The Padres led 8-3 at the time and won 10-3.
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