The Milwaukee Brewers won their second straight game, knocking off the Miami Marlins 4-2 at Miller Park on Thursday night. It’s the first time the Brewers have won back-to-back games since Aug. 24-25.
But the game was marred by Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton getting hit in the face by a Mike Fiers fastball in the fifth inning.
Stanton was struck on the left side of his face and went down immediately in the batters box. Stanton was attended to and then taken off the field on a mini-ambulance. Stanton lost so much blood that the grounds crew had to come in to cleanup the batter’s box.
Stanton suffered multiple facial fractures, dental damage and a facial laceration that required stitches. He’s likely done for the season.
Mike Fiers was visibly shaken by the sight of Stanton sprawled on the ground. “It’s very tough. I’ve never in my life experienced anything like that. It was very hard for me to take in everything at the moment and come back and thrown another pitch.”
“I just want to send my thoughts and prayers to Giancarlo Stanton. I would never think of throwing at somebody like that. Never in my life has something like that happened. I’m very sad that it hit them. I’m very sorry to their teammates, their fans, his family. It’s just tough.”
Stanton was ruled to have gone around with his bat during the incident, so instead of being awarded first base, the umpires ruled strike two. Reed Johnson then took over for Stanton and was struck by Fiers on the hand by the very next pitch. Johnson also went around with his bat and strike three was ruled and the inning was over.
That’s when both benches cleared as former Brewer Casey McGehee lost it, screaming at the umpires while teammates tried to restrain him.
Fiers was replaced after that inning (5th inning). But he still earned the victory.
Ryan Braun clubbed his 230th career home run, tying him with Prince Fielder for second on the all-time Brewers list. Matt Clark hit his second of the season, getting his second consecutive start from manager Ron Roenicke.
The Brewers remain 1 1/2 games behind he Pittsburgh Pirates for the final National League Wild Card spot. They’ll open a 3-game series against the Cincinnati Reds tonight. Kyle Lohse (12-9, 3.82) pitches for the Brewers. Mat Latos (5-5, 3.25) goes for Cincinnati.
Following is the MLB.com video of Stanton being hit by a Mike Fiers fastball.