Atlanta Braves veteran starter Tim Hudson fractured his ankle in a gruesome collision with New York Mets outfielder Eric Young Jr. last night, resulting in Hudson being taken off the field on a stretcher.
Young hit a soft ground ball to first base where Freddie Freeman fielded it and made a routine flip to Hudson, who was covering the bag. The out was made, but Hudson's right foot lingered a bit too long on the base, and a hustling Young stepped on the pitcher's ankle with his full weight.
Hudson immediately winced, attempted to put pressure on the ankle, then crumpled to the grass in obvious pain. Trainers rushed to his side, as did a regretful Young.
Young seemed shaken, and after the game expressed sincere apologies for the accident.
"I'm hustling down the line like I always do, going for the base," Young said. "I saw his foot, as I'm going for the base, right there in the middle, as I came down, I knew I didn't get any of the base. I know I got all of his foot. I pretty much knew it was probably broke right as I did it, and that's why I sprinted right back to him and tried to console him as much as I could and apologize. I was able to see Tim before they took him to the hospital. He told me it wasn't my fault, just one of those freak plays that happened."
Hudson is the second pitcher in the Braves rotation to hit the disabled list this week; left-hander Paul Maholm is sidelined with a sore wrist. Atlanta got an 8-2 victory, but the win was secondary to Hudson's brutal break. "We won, but it's a tough night," said catcher Brian McCann.
Hudson finished the night having gone 7.2 innings, and surrendering just two runs on four hits, while striking out nine. It was his best outing of the year.
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