Indians rally; Huff hit by liner

Associated Press

New York

David Huff lay motionless on the mound for nearly six minutes, struck in the head by Alex Rodriguez’s line drive. His Cleveland teammates gathered nearby, the crowd stood in stunned silence.

“It was very scary,” Indians outfielder Trevor Crowe said. “One of the first times in baseball I was fearful for someone’s life.”

About three hours later, after a negative CT scan at the hospital, the pitcher was back in the clubhouse, smiling with the relieved Indians after their remarkable, come-from-behind 13-11 victory Saturday over the New York Yankees.

As he rode the team bus back to the hotel with his parents and brother, the 25-year-old left-hander got a phone call from A-Rod.

“It was definitely an emotional roller-coaster today,” Indians first baseman Matt LaPorta said.

Rodriguez’s drive hit Huff above the left ear and caromed into right field for an RBI double, a frightening scene in the third inning that shook players on both sides. Rodriguez put both hands to his helmet as he pulled into second base, and went straight toward the mound.

Huff was face down in the dirt for about 90 seconds, then trainers helped him onto his back. At the urging of the trainers, Huff remained still. He answered their questions and never lost consciousness, nor did he have memory loss. After being placed on a board and fitted with a neck collar, he gave an encouraging thumbs-up as he was being carted off the field.

“He’s doing well, we’ll find out more tomorrow,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He did not have any concussive symptoms right now.”

Down 10-4 in the sixth inning to CC Sabathia, the Indians came back to win in their highest-scoring game of the season.

Lou Marson hit three doubles, including a key shot off Joba Chamberlain (1-3) in a seven-run seventh, and Russell Branyan homered for the second straight day.

Rafael Perez (1-0) pitched an inning in a game that took 4 hours, 22 minutes. Kerry Wood, the last of 12 pitchers that teams combined to use, gave up an RBI double to Derek Jeter in the ninth but finished for his second save.

Yankees reliever Dave Robertson left in mid-game because of a mild lower back strain and is day to day.

“Tightness,” Robertson said of the injury. “I just couldn’t finish a pitch out there.”