SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young and catcher
Josh Bard were knocked out of Wednesday night's game against the
St. Louis Cardinals by Albert Pujols within a span of two batters.
Pujols hit a line drive off his Young's face in the third inning, breaking the right-hander's nose. Young immediately fell on his backside and put his right hand up to his face. Blood was running down his face.
After a few minutes of sitting on the grass, Young walked off holding a bandage on his face with blood on the front of his jersey.
Young was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Pujols' shot ricocheted to the left side of the infield for a single and loaded the bases with one out. After Ryan Ludwick's grounder knocked in one run and advanced the runners, Troy Glaus lined a single to right field.
Aaron Miles and Pujols scored on the play. But right fielder
Brian Giles' throw arrived at the plate at the same time as Pujols, who slid and caught Bard's left leg.
Bard went down in a heap and stayed on the ground for a few minutes before he was helped off the field, dragging his left leg. The Padres said Bard sprained his left ankle.