Monday’s Cubs-Pirates game was delayed 23 minutes after a scary incident in the second inning. Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro fouled off a 90-mile-per-hour pitch from Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett and the ball hit a woman standing behind home plate.
Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, like all Major League ballparks, is equipped with netting behind home plate, but the woman was standing so close, that it did not prevent the ball from hitting her in the back of the head.
The game resumed after the delay. The woman was carried out of the stadium on a stretcher and taken to a hospital.
Woman hit in head with Castro's foul ball taken from field. Appears to be conscious. Friend next to her gives thumbs up to crowd.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) April 21, 2015
Pittsburgh Pirates officials announced that that the woman was fully conscious as she left the stadium, thanking her caretakers and giving a “thumbs up” as she left. The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, received a chorus of applause from the crowd.
It is common at Major League venues, including PNC Park, for ushers to restrain fans from finding their seats during an at-bat. Some go so far as to hold up stop signs at the top of the aisles as a reminder.
"We're out there doing our thing, someone here watching the game, sad that happens," Burnett said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her, for sure. Crazy that it happens, but we're human beings, too -- we feel, we see. And that's very unfortunate."
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