Sep 11, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Miami Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee (9) and medical personnel looks after right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) after he was hit by a ball in the fifth inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
MILWAUKEE — The Miami Marlins came to Miller Park with the hopes of charging into a National League wild-card spot.
After two tough losses to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Marlins not only face an uphill battle, but they also may have to move forward without right fielder Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton has taken off the field by ambulance after getting hit in the face by a fastball from Brewers right-hander Mike Fiers in the fifth inning.
He sustained facial fractures and dental damage, and he needed stitches. While the team is headed to Philadelphia for a weekend series, Stanton is scheduled to return to Miami on Friday to be evaluated.
“It’s a tough one,” said Reed Johnson, who finished Stanton’s at-bat and was also hit by a Fiers pitch. “We’ve probably lost the MVP of the National League for the rest of the year. I’ve been around for a couple of those. I saw it with Marlon Byrd and Jason Heyward. It’s obviously going to take time to get him back.”
Umpire Jeff Kellogg ruled that both Stanton and Johnson were swinging when they were hit, leading to an inning-ending strikeout with two on and the Marlins trailing the Brewers 4-0.
The benches cleared when Johnson was hit, and ultimately, third baseman Casey McGehee and manager Mike Redmond were ejected.
Though Redmond seemed to question Fiers’ motives, both Johnson and McGehee said the Marlins’ anger was directed more at the umpires and Fiers’ reaction.
“Guys were chirping at him and he looked over and throws his arms up in the air,” Johnson said. “You just hit one of our guys in the face, he’s probably done for the year, and that was the reaction that we got.
“I think that was probably the frustrating thing. What do you expect our reaction to be from our dugout?
“When the very next pitch is right up around my face, I think that’s when guys had seen enough and wanted to express their displeasure.”
Stanton is one of the front-runners to be the National League’s Most Valuable Player. He leads the league with 37 homers, 105 RBIs, a .555 slugging percentage and a .950 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He ranks third with a .396 on-base percentage, and he is batting .288.
