Blue Jays' Dick Schofield Suffers Scary Injury

Strategic Insights -

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Dick Schofield's night quickly turned from a regular game to a life-threatening situation after being hit in the helmet with a pitch by Boston Red Sox starter Aaron Sele in the fifth inning. The X-rays taken were negative, and all other tests showed no serious problem, but Schofield was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for observation.

Schofield has had a tough season, having lost the starting shortstop job to rookie Alex Gonzalez and dealing with a sore arm that kept him out of the lineup on Monday night. He had made 46 successive starts at shortstop before the injury. The Blue Jays have struggled this season, going from 5 1/2 games out to 10 games out of first place in the American League East since June 13.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dick Schofield suffered a scary injury after being hit in the helmet with a pitch by Aaron Sele in the fifth inning.
  • Schofield has had a tough season, having lost the starting shortstop job to rookie Alex Gonzalez and dealing with a sore arm.
  • The Blue Jays have struggled this season, going from 5 1/2 games out to 10 games out of first place in the American League East since June 13.
  • The Red Sox scored 10 runs in the first inning, a new record for most runs allowed in the first inning by the Blue Jays.
  • Aaron Sele pitched seven innings for the Red Sox, holding the Jays to one run on four hits.
  • Mike Timlin pitched 3 2/3 innings for Boston, not allowing a run.
  • The Blue Jays' pitchers, John Olerud, Brad Cornett, and Scott Brow, combined for nine walks in the first 1 1/3 innings.

Statistics:

  • 10: The number of runs the Red Sox scored in the first inning
  • 7: The number of innings Aaron Sele pitched for the Red Sox
  • 4: The number of hits the Blue Jays had in seven innings against Sele
  • 1: The number of runs the Blue Jays scored against the Red Sox
  • 59: The number of strikes Aaron Sele threw in his seven innings
  • 98: The number of pitches Aaron Sele threw in his seven innings
  • 9: The number of walks the Blue Jays' pitchers threw in the first 1 1/3 innings
  • 2/3: The number of innings Mike Timlin pitched for the Red Sox
  • 73: The number of pitches combined by Brad Cornett and Scott Brow in the first 1 1/3 innings
  • 33: The number of strikes combined by Brad Cornett and Scott Brow in the first 1 1/3 innings

Sources:

  • "Blue Jays' Schofield Suffers Scary Injury" by Larry Millson, Toronto Sport Reporter (no date mentioned)
  • "Red Sox 13, Jays 1" by The Toronto Star (no date mentioned)