(Photo: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports)
CHICAGO – Derek Dietrich knows what it’s like to be hit by a pitch. He’s been hit by a Major League-leading 21 pitches this season and 114 times in his career.
Tuesday was more painful. Dietrich was hit by an 84-mph cutter from Chicago Cubs starter Yu Darvish on his right knee in the fifth inning. Dietrich fell to the ground with a grimace on his face. He turned over to sit on his butt, rested for a second and then stood up with a limp.
After a couple of painful steps, Dietrich stopped to talk with assistant trainer Tomas Vera with his hands on his knees and his head down.