HOUSTON – The game stopped in the flash of time it took a hard foul ball to reach the seats beyond third base.
Reaction was immediate in the seating area, where a small girl had been hit, fans waving for help from ballpark staff, seconds later a man rushing up the stairs with the crying child clutched to his chest, seeking medical attention.
Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. watched the flight of his foul ball, took one step toward the scene, then sunk to one knee, distraught, his head in his hand.
“As soon as I hit it, the first person I locked eyes on was her,” said Almora, who was consoled by teammate Jason Heyward, the on-deck batter, who knelt to put an arm around Almora.