Chase Silseth hit in head by infield throw

Rhett Bollinger

NEW YORK -- The Angels won a series for just the second time this month, but it came with a cost, as right-hander Chase Silseth left the game after being hit in the head on a throw from first base to third base in the fourth inning.

Silseth, who was hit by a throw from first baseman Trey Cabbage as Silseth ran toward third to back up the base, was evaluated at a local hospital after the 5-3 win over the Mets at Citi Field. Silseth was released Saturday night and was back at the ballpark with the club on Sunday. He wasn’t placed on the injured list, but the Angels will continue to be cautious with him, as he’s still dealing with swelling and a headache.

“He’s got a pretty good lump on his noggin and a headache, but everything checked out well last night,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “We’ll continue to monitor him throughout the day. I think we avoided something serious, but with head injuries, you always want to be cautious.”

The play started with the Mets trying to attempt a double steal, but the runner at second started and stopped while the runner at first ran toward second, and catcher Logan O'Hoppe threw to Cabbage at first base. Cabbage then fired to third base to try to get the runner, but the ball hit Silseth in the head.

Silseth took a few steps before he hit the ground, but he was later able to sit up on his own power and left the game with the assistance of trainers Mike Frostad and Eric Munson.

“There was a lot going on,” O’Hoppe said. “I didn't really process what happened until after. As far as what I was thinking there, I saw [Jeff McNeil] break, and McNeil went back to first. So I threw to first trying to get the out there, and then it all unfolded. I heard he’s doing OK. But it’s a tough thing to see.”

Silseth had thrown 3 1/3 scoreless innings before Francisco Lindor scored on the play, but lefty Aaron Loup replaced him and gave up an RBI double to DJ Stewart. Silseth ended up being charged with two runs on two hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Loup picked up the win by not allowing an earned run in 1 2/3 innings in relief.

Silseth, 23, had been pitching well since rejoining the rotation in mid-July, posting a 3.34 ERA in six starts with 38 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. O’Hoppe said he liked what he saw from Silseth before he exited his start on Saturday.

“He was incredible,” O’Hoppe said. “He was mixing everything up. He had his heater command. He was stressing that early in the game. It was another fun one. I felt like we had a lot of options and I was really impressed.”

If Silseth misses time, the Angels do have some options in the rotation even with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani not pitching again this season because of a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

The Angels could shift to a five-man rotation without Ohtani and go with a combination of Lucas Giolito, Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, Tyler Anderson and Griffin Canning.