Texas Rangers athletic trainer Matt Lucero, left, third base coach Tony Beasley (27) and manager Bruce Bochy, right, check on Marcus Semien (2) after Semien was hit by a pitch in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien, center front, and Corey Seager, center rear, celebrate with teammates after they scored on an Adolis Garcia single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Rangers 2B Marcus Semien takes pitch to helmet, then stays in game to score against Braves
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien stayed in the game and scored on a go-ahead single after a 94.6 mph fastball hit the ear flap of his helmet while batting in the third inning Saturday night against Atlanta.
Texas Rangers athletic trainer Matt Lucero, left, third base coach Tony Beasley (27) and manager Bruce Bochy, right, check on Marcus Semien (2) after Semien was hit by a pitch in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien stayed in the game and scored on a go-ahead single after a 94.6 mph fastball hit the ear flap of his helmet while batting in the third inning Saturday night against Atlanta.
Semien turned his head down and avoided a direct shot to the face when he was unable to get out of the way of Grant Holmes’ pitch. Semien then twisted his body while grabbing at the left side of his face as he stumbled back and then laid flat on his back.
Third base coach Tony Beasley immediately ran toward Semien while athletic trainer Matt Lucero and manager Bruce Bochy came out of the Rangers dugout.
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After staying down momentarily while talking to Lucero, Semien sat up and then eventually walked slowly to first base. After an extended conversation there with the trainer and his manager, Semien stayed in the game even as he rubbed his left cheek.
Holmes appeared distraught while Semien was down, and got a visit from pitching coach Rick Kranitz as the Rangers were tending to their second baseman.
When play resumed, Holmes went to a 3-0 count on Adolis GarcÃa, the next batter, including a wild pitch that allowed Corey Seager and Semien to advance a base. Both scored on GarcÃa’s single to right for a 4-2 lead.
Semien took the field when the Rangers went back on defense in the fourth, and batted again in the bottom of the inning. That at-bat ended with him slamming his helmet after his hard shot up the middle deflected off Holmes and to second baseman Ozzie Albies for what turned into an inning-ending out with the bases loaded.
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