KANSAS CITY -- Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield left Sunday's series finale against the Astros in the second inning after fouling a pitch off his left knee.
Merrifield hit the first pitch from Lance McCullers Jr. -- a 95-mph two-seamer -- down into his knee before hobbling away in pain and eventually falling to the ground. He walked off the field on his own power, but with a visible limp and at the side of manager Ned Yost and athletic trainer Nick Kenney.
Adalberto Mondesi, who was called up from Triple-A Omaha before the game, finished the at-bat and struck out.