It was a scary scene for the Red Sox in the fifth inning of Friday's game against the Phillies. Shortly after Daniel Bard's pitch plunked Ty Wigginton, the ball caromed off Wigginton's arm and nailed Saltalamacchia on the left side of his head.
The Red Sox later announced the injury was a left ear laceration. As trainers attended to Saltalamacchia, the catcher started to bleed and was immediately escorted to the hospital.
"It happened so fast," Bard said. "When you're out there playing I see it hit the batter, and usually those catchers are pretty well protected. There's always that way it can get in and sneak behind their gear.
"I saw the slow motion replay, looked like it hit him in the shoulder and deflected up into his ear. Still had a lot of the velocity on it. I talked to him, he's OK. Little shook up, but probably just a pretty good cut on his ear."
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said Saltalamacchia would likely need stitches for the laceration. In the meantime, the team will contemplate whether to recall another catcher to back up Kelly Shoppach.
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