3 released after Saturday beanings

[August 17, 2009]  (AP) Mets third baseman David Wright and Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda were released from the hospital Sunday and Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler was back in the lineup after all three took balls off their heads Saturday.

New York spokesman Jay Horwitz said Wright was examined by a neurologist Saturday night and again Sunday morning before being sent home. The All-Star third baseman still had a headache and was experiencing "post-concussion symptoms," Horwitz said.

Wright was hit square on the helmet by a 94 mph fastball from Matt Cain in New York's 5-4, 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants.

When asked if Wright could miss the rest of the season, New York manager Jerry Manuel said it's "a possibility" depending on how further tests come out. The club placed him on the 15-day DL after a 3-2 victory over the Giants.

"I do believe we have to be cautious with this," Manuel said, "and we will be."

A CT scan on Kuroda was negative, and the right-hander's only symptom Sunday was a mild headache, Los Angeles trainer Stan Conte said. Kuroda was expected to attend the final game of the Dodgers' series against Arizona before flying home with the team. He will undergo further tests by Los Angeles neurologist Dr. Vernon Williams on Monday.

"We are unbelievably pleasantly surprised by the lack of symptoms he has," Conte said. "Many times, when a player begins to exert himself, the more the symptoms come on. If we make an error, we are going to make it on the conservative side."

The 34-year-old Kuroda crumpled to the mound after pinch-hitter Rusty Ryal's liner deflected off the right side of his head and landed near the Arizona on-deck circle before bouncing into the stands for a ground-rule double.

All eight Dodgers fielders stood on the mound as trainers tended to Kuroda, who was placed on a stretcher and loaded onto a cart. He raised both of his arms as the cart rolled off the field in the sixth inning.

"Just very lucky. I guess it just hit him in the right spot if there is such a right spot," said Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who visited Kuroda in the hospital Saturday night.

Kinsler homered and drove in two runs a day after Fernando Cabrera's fastball bounced off his shoulder and struck him in the batting helmet. He got up off the ground quickly and exchanged words with Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek before taking first base.

Kinsler said everything was fine after he spoke with the Boston captain.

"When a ball comes at your face like that, you don't have time to think," Kinsler said before Texas' 4-3 win over Boston on Sunday. "Me and Varitek had some words. We were able to talk after the game and put it behind us."

[Associated Press]

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