Mariners catcher Jesus Montero knows he is going to take foul tips off his arms, his legs, his hands and even his mask. It’s part of the job.
“We have to be tough and fight through it,” he said.
Tough or not, one of those foul tips knocked him from the game Wednesday.
Montero took a foul tip from Robert Andino squarely off the front of his mask on a 92 mph fastball from Hector Noesi in the fifth inning.
“It got me right in the forehead,” Montero said. “The masks usually work, but this time it got me good.”
The impact was so hard it knocked Montero over backward. Mariners’ manager Eric Wedge and trainer Rob Nodine both attended to Montero immediately.
After a brief conversation and a few concussion tests, Montero was taken out of the game and replaced by Miguel Olivo.
“I feel OK now,” Montero said after the game. “I feel a little dizzy, but I’m OK.”
But during the game that was not the case.
“I was pretty dizzy,” he said. “They checked me out to be sure. But I’m glad nothing happened.”
Wedge said Montero has a very mild concussion.
“We don’t think it will be anything similar to (Franklin Gutierrez), where we will have to put him on the disabled list,” Wedge said. “But we will have re-evaluate him (today).”
This is the second time this season that a foul tip has left Montero woozy.
During spring training, he took back-to-back foul tips off his mask and was knocked out of the game.
“That was worse,” he said.
Since then, he has changed masks. He eschewed the traditional catcher’s mask in favor of a hockey goalie mask.
SHORT HOPS
Mike Carp, who is on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, began his rehab assignment on Wednesday in Salt Lake City with the Tacoma Rainiers. Carp batted third and was the designated hitter. ... Right-handed reliefer Stephen Pryor – also on the DL – is slowly making his way back from a strained groin. He threw his third bullpen session and will throw a simulated game with the team in Oakland. If all goes well, he will head out on a rehab assignment. ... Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, who is on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion, is improving but likely won’t return till after the All-Star break. ... Steve Delabar, Brandon League, Lucas Luetge and Shawn Kelley combined to throw four hitless innings for the Mariners. It was the 12th time this season the Mariners’ bullpen has held team hitless for four innings or more. ... Seattle has given Hector Noesi a total of one run of support in his last five starts. ... It was the sixth time this season, the Mariners got three hits or fewer.
ON TAP
The Mariners are off today and return to action Friday in Oakland for a three-game series against the A’s. Right-hander Kevin Millwood (3-6, 4.00 ERA) will get the start against A’s left-hander Tommy Milone (8-6 3.73).
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