Ben Lively and the Cleveland Guardians were relieved on Tuesday night after it seemed the pitcher avoided a serious injury.
Lively left Cleveland’s 5-0 win over the Chicago White Sox after being hit by a comebacker in the second inning. The right-hander fell to the ground but the team reported he had a right thigh contusion and believed he would be ready for his next start.
“I didn’t feel much after the first hit,” Lively said. “Luckily, it’s just right there on that muscle.”
Lively, age 32, was struck on the outside of his right leg by a line drive from Dominic Fletcher. The ball bounced off Lively to first baseman Josh Naylor, who caught it for the final out of the inning.
The 6-foot-4 Lively was assisted off the field but walked the last few steps into the Guardians’ dugout by himself. He mentioned that he did not need X-rays.
“We just put ice on it and treated it,” he said, “and we’re getting ready for the next one.”
Lively had two strikeouts in two innings for the AL Central leaders. He holds a record of 11-9 with a 4.01 ERA in a career-high 26 starts and 137 innings.
“He’s sore. Really sore,” manager Stephen Vogt said, “but the exam showed everything is fine. It’s just a contusion. Probably just a really bad charley horse.”
