BOSTON -- Florida Marlins pitcher Kevin Olsen was hit in the head by a line drive in the seventh inning Friday night against the Boston Red Sox but apparently wasn't seriously injured.

The injury was considered minor and he was listed in good condition, said Dr. Richard Wolfe, an emergency room physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, a few blocks from Fenway Park. Olsen was to stay overnight for observation.

Olsen moved his legs and blinked his eyes as he lay nearly motionless on the mound for nine minutes after being struck by Todd Walker's line drive. Olsen was removed from the field on a stretcher.

Florida manager Jack McKeon said Olsen was talking and seemed to be conscious the entire time he was on the ground.

Olsen's head was immobilized and he was strapped to a board that was raised onto a rolling stretcher. He had his arms folded at his waist as he left the field.

Olsen, a 27-year-old right-hander in his third season with the Marlins, appeared to be hit behind the right ear as he followed through on his delivery. The ball bounced toward Florida's third-base dugout, and Walker wound up with a double.

Trainers from both teams rushed to the mound and players in both dugouts stood or sat silently, some appearing to pray.

In Boston's dugout, Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra stared at the mound, rarely blinking or changing expression. Walker stood at second base rubbing his hand on his hair as Florida shortstop Alex Gonzalez and Boston first base coach Dallas Williams stood on either side of him.

The injury was reminiscent of a line drive by Ryan Thompson of the New York Yankees that struck Red Sox right-hander Bryce Florie in the eye at Fenway Park on Sept. 8, 2001.

Florie sustained serious eye damage and attempted a comeback with the Red Sox. He was later released and is out of the majors.