Angels’ catcher Kurt Suzuki leaves game with neck contusion
ANAHEIM — Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki suffered a neck contusion when he was hit by a ball during warm-ups between innings on Saturday night.
Although Suzuki was briefly unable to support himself down the dugout steps in the moments after he was removed from the game, the Angels announced later in the night that he was alert as he underwent further testing.
Suzuki was warming up right-hander Michael Lorenzen before the top of the third inning when a pitch hit the dirt and skipped toward Suzuki’s head. He turned his head to the left and the ball caught him on the right side of his neck.
Suzuki walked toward the dugout to get medical attention. As he began to walk down the dugout steps, he seemed to lose his balance and several teammates and coaches supported him down the stairs.
Chad Wallach, the Angels top catcher at Triple-A, was removed from Salt Lake’s game at Sacramento shortly after Suzuki was hurt, which was likely a sign that the Angels were preparing in case they needed to bring him to Anaheim for Sunday’s game.