Yankees' Chase Headley hit in chin by pitch, status uncertain

Yankees third baseman Chase Headley did not travel with the team to Baltimore after being hit in the chin by a 96 mph fastball from Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jake McGee during Thursday's game.

New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley was hit in the chin by a 96-mph fastball from Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jake McGee during Thursday's game, and he did not travel with the team for the start of its day-night doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said tests conducted on Headley showed no fractures, but he did need stitches and will see a neurologist to check for a concussion.

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Headley was the second MLB player to be hit in the face with a pitch Thursday night, following Miami Marlins outfielder and MVP candidate Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton was carted off the field after he was hit in the jaw by Milwaukee Brewers starter Mike Fiers. Headley and Stanton were two of 13 major leaguers to be hit by pitches on Thursday. 

In the bottom of the ninth inning against Tampa Bay, Headley led off with the Yankees trailing 4-2 and was immediately hit with an inside pitch from McGee. Headley walked to the clubhouse under his own power after being replaced by a pinch runner.

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"It's extremely scary," Girardi said, according to MLB.com, "if you've ever been hit in the face with a fastball, any pitch." 

The Yankees eventually won the game 5-4 on a walk-off three-run homer from Chris Young. The victory put New York 10.5 games behind the Orioles in the American League East. The Yankees trail the Detroit Tigers by four games for the AL's final wild card berth.

- Scooby Axson