UPDATE (4 p.m. Saturday): The D-backs reported Chris Iannetta suffered a nose fracture and a couple of fractured teeth, and he received stitches in his upper lip. "He's doing OK... He said he could play tonight if he needed to," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks won their third straight game Friday night, but it came at a price for Chris Iannetta.
The catcher left the game after being hit in the face with a pitch in the seventh inning of the D-backs' 11-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Chase Field. He walked off the field on his own power but was later taken to a hospital for evaluation.
OUCH ???! Chris Iannetta exits after getting hit in the face by the pitch! pic.twitter.com/hGpfpyLXbv
— TheRenderMLB (@TheRenderMLB) May 13, 2017
Chris Iannetta is currently at a local hospital receiving treatment after he was hit in the face with a fastball tonight. pic.twitter.com/bWCjRgnusH
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) May 13, 2017
Unbelievable photo by @rebilasphoto. pic.twitter.com/IF0tdxG5Tx
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) May 13, 2017
There has been some bad blood between the D-backs and Pirates in recent years, and the Pirates have been first or second in Major League Baseball in hit batters in each of the last four seasons. But Johnny Barbato, the Pirates pitcher who struck Iannetta, said the throw was unintentional.
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo agreed.
#Dbacks manager Torey Lovullo says he believes simply got away from Pirates pitcher.
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) May 13, 2017
Johnny Barbato: "Just got away. Obviously wasn’t on purpose or anything. I think I felt worse than anyone in the stadium at the time." https://t.co/7ZE3g3lAYl
— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) May 13, 2017
The 34-year-old Iannetta has played for four MLB teams during his pro career that began in 2006. The D-backs signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million contract in January. He's hitting .220 this season, and he hit his third home run of the year earlier in Friday's game.
Iannetta is the co-founder of Jack Winery, a business he started with former Los Angeles Angels teammate Vernon Wells in 2012.
Please keep our co-founder @Chris_Iannetta in your prayers tonight while he heals after a wild pitch to the face.
— Jack Winery (@JackWinery) May 13, 2017
My boy decided to try and eat and hit a ball at the same time. ?? up my man. Heal up quick. @JackWinery Family pic.twitter.com/O6Vm4OuG1H
— Vernon Wells (@VernonWells10) May 13, 2017
The D-backs have won each of the first two games of their current four-game set with the Pirates. The two teams will face off again Saturday night.
