Puckett's Brutal Injury: Martinez's Fastball Shatters Jaw in Game Against Twins

Kirby Puckett's attempts to notch his 100th run batted in of the season were abruptly halted as he was struck by a Dennis Martinez fastball in the first inning of a 12-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians. The violent collision shattered Puckett's upper jaw, causing extensive bleeding and leaving him in need of four to six weeks to recover.

Key Takeaways:

• Puckett was struck in the left corner of his mouth by a Dennis Martinez fastball, causing significant bleeding and a shattered upper jaw.
• The injury occurred in the first inning of a 12-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
• Puckett was taken to Riverside Hospital, where he received stitches for cuts inside his mouth and was found to have two loose teeth.
• The team physician, Dan Buss, expects Puckett's jaw to heal without being wired shut, but warns of potential swelling in his sinus passages and infection risk.
• Martinez was visibly shaken by the incident, referring to Puckett as one of his "best friends in baseball" and admitting to feeling like the "lowest man in baseball" after the collision.
• The incident was described as one of the most brutal and disturbing events witnessed by pitcher Frank Rodriguez, who stated that he had never seen that much blood on a baseball field before.

Statistics:

• 1-2 count: Martinez's pitch that struck Puckett.
• 4-6 weeks: Estimated recovery time for Puckett.
• 100: The number of runs batted in Puckett was attempting to notch with his swing when he was struck.
• 12-4: The final score of the game in which Puckett was injured.

Sources:

• "Puckett's jaw shattered in Indians-Twins game" - AP Videos (date not specified)