Jarrod Saltalamacchia left the game in Friday night's Boston Red Sox versus Philadelphia Phillies matchup. Saltalamacchia was struck behind the ear by a fastball thrown by Daniel Bard. The ball glanced off Philadelphia's Ty Wigginton, then ricocheted off the catcher's forearm before hitting him in the side of the head. Saltalamacchia was bleeding, and he was removed from the game and replaced by Kelly Shoppach.
Saltalamacchia is the latest of Boston's players to suffer from injury: Kevin Youkilis, Darnell McDonald, and Aaron Cook have all missed time recently, and Jacoby Ellsbury and Daisuke Matsuzaka are seeing long term stays on the disabled list. Shoppach enters the game batting .250 in 61 plate appearances, not much different than Saltalamacchia's .269 in 98 plate appearances.
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