PITTSBURGH -- A man fell from the 21-foot Clemente Wall in right field at PNC Park during Wednesday night's game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs.
Pittsburgh Public Safety, which includes Pittsburgh Police and EMS, posted on X late Wednesday that the man was in critical condition and that police were investigating.
Right after Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run double in the seventh inning to put the Pirates ahead 4-3, players began waving frantically for medical personnel and pointing to the man, who had fallen onto the warning track.
The fan was tended to for approximately five minutes by members of the Pirates' and Cubs' training staffs as well as PNC personnel before being removed from the field on a cart.
The team issued a statement shortly after the game, saying the man was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further details were given.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton and Cubs manager Craig Counsell alerted the umpire crew of the situation immediately after the play.
"Even though it's 350 feet away or whatever it is, I mean the fact of how it went down and then laying motionless while the play is going on, I mean Craig saw it, I saw it. We both got out there," Shelton said. "... It's extremely unfortunate. That's an understatement."
Players from both teams could be seen praying, and McCutchen held a cross that hung from his neck while the fan was moved from the field.
"Truly hate what happened tonight," McCutchen posted on X late Wednesday. "Cant help but think about that guy, his family and friends. I pray tonight for him. Let us think about his loved ones and hug our families a little tighter tonight. I hope he pulls thru. May God Bless you all. Good night."
The game was paused for several minutes while the man was tended to but there was no official stoppage in play.
"I didn't see anything happen, but I saw [Counsell's] face when he came out on the field, and I could tell that it was a very scary moment," Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. "All we could do was just pray for a good, strong recovery for him and his family. I have never been part of something like that before and I hope I am never part of something like that again.
"It's a humble reminder of the gratitude we should all have to play this game. Folks obviously come out to support us, and they are a big reason why we are able to do what we do. It's obviously tough. At a time like that, you want [the fans] to know you love them."
Fans have died from steep falls at baseball stadiums.
In 2015, Atlanta Braves season-ticket holder Gregory K. Murrey flipped over guard rails from the upper deck at Turner Field. That was four years after Shannon Stone, a firefighter attending a game with his 6-year-old son, fell about 20 feet after reaching out for a foul ball tossed into the stands at the Texas Rangers' former stadium.
Both incidents prompted scrutiny over the height of guard rails at stadiums. The Rangers raised theirs, and the Braves settled a lawsuit with Murrey's family.
A spectator at a 2022 NFL game at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium died after a fall on an escalator.SEATTLE -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout left Wednesday's 9-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners because of left knee soreness.
During Trout's at-bat in the third inning, he tried to run out a ground ball to second base. He sprinted down the line and lunged toward first and was barely out. Trout stayed in the game on defense but was pulled the next inning and replaced by pinch hitter Jo Adell.
"When it happened, I knew it was like just a weird one," Trout said after the game. "But now, after getting treatment and stuff, I should be a little better soon."
Trout underwent several tests after the game and said he was hopeful it was merely scar tissue breaking up. He said he planned to play Thursday against the Detroit Tigers.
"I'll come and see how it feels," he said. "That's the plan right now."
Trout, who was 1-for-2 before being pulled Wednesday, has not sat out a game this season, appearing in all 29, including 22 as a right fielder.
Trout appeared in 29 games last season before tearing his meniscus and sitting out the rest of the season. He's hitting .173 this season, with nine home runs and 18 RBIs.
J.P. Crawford's tiebreaking two-run single keyed Seattle's six-run seventh inning, sending the Angels to their fifth straight loss.
Post a Comment