SEATTLE -- The concerns of real life took over the competitive joy of a baseball game on Sunday afternoon, and every hit, run and strikeout tallied by the Angels in a 4-2 victory over the Mariners became secondary to the health of Matt Shoemaker, the starting pitcher, teammate and friend.
Shoemaker left Sunday's game in the second inning after being hit square on the right side of the head by a 105 mph line drive, suffering a small skull fracture and small hematoma that will end his season. The right-hander was to see a neurologist and spend the night at a Seattle hospital for further observation.