ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ was hit in the head by a line drive and taken off the field on a stretcher during Toronto’s 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
In a frightening scene at Tropicana Field, Desmond Jennings’ second-inning liner caromed squarely off the left side of Happ’s head with a loud “thwack!” that could be heard up in the press box.
The ball went all the way into the bullpen in foul territory halfway down the right-field line. Happ dropped face down at the front of the mound, holding his head with his glove and bare hand.
The pitcher was taken to a hospital for tests but the Blue Jays had no update on his condition immediately after the game, manager John Gibbons said.
Jennings ended up on third base with a two-run triple. Team trainers, paramedics and medical officials rushed to Happ’s aid as Tropicana Field fell into a hush.
Jennings stood with his hands on his head, and other players were visibly concerned as they watched Happ receive medical attention for about eight minutes.
Toronto manager John Gibbons stood on the mound as Happ was strapped to a backboard and immobilized. The left-hander was lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled off the field through an opening behind home plate.
Just before he disappeared under the stands, Happ raised his right hand and waved. He received a standing ovation from the crowd, and the game resumed after an 11-minute delay.
Brad Lincoln replaced Happ, who gave up four runs — all in the second — and five hits in 1 1-3 innings.
The Blue Jays grabbed a 6-4 lead in the ninth on Maicer Itzuris’ solo homer and an RBI double by Melky Cabrera off Joel Peralta (0-2). Toronto, which trailed by three early on, tied it at 4 in the eighth on Jose Bautista’s RBI double.
Toronto was coming off an 8-7 victory over the Rays on Monday night in which the Blue Jays rallied from a 7-0 deficit.
Adam Lind put the Blue Jays up 1-0 in the second on his first homer this season. Cody Rasmus cut the deficit to 4-3 on a two-run homer in the seventh.
Steve Delabar (3-1) threw two scoreless innings before Casey Janssen pitched the ninth for his ninth save. The Blue Jays have won three in a row for the first time this season.
Tampa Bay starter Roberto Hernandez went six innings, allowing one run and five hits. He had seven strikeouts and one walk.
Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the second for arguing by plate umpire Marty Foster prior to Happ getting hurt.
Foster ruled that Sean Rodriguez’s hand missed the plate as he tried to score from third during a slide on Jose Molina’s bunt. Maddon was tossed after swiping his hand across the plate where the manager thought Rodriguez had touched it.
Foster also threw out Edwin Encarnacion after the Toronto first baseman struck out to end the ninth.
NOTES: Rays RF Ben Zobrist rejoined the team after missing two games following the death of his grandmother. ... A group of injured Toronto pitcher rehabbing at the team’s complex in nearby Dunedin were at the ballpark. RHP Sergio Santos (right triceps) is scheduled to pitch in extended spring training games Thursday and Saturday, and if things go well he could join Class-A Dunedin next week. RHP Dustin McGowan (right shoulder) is pitching out of the bullpen in extended spring games and could start a rehab assignment next week. RHP Drew Hutchison (right elbow) is about three weeks away from throwing batting practice. RHP Kyle Drabek (right elbow) could be ready to throw batting practice in a week or two.