Giants' Cueto has bruise after getting hit in head by liner
MESA, Ariz. (AP) San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto showed no initial signs of a concussion or serious injury Monday night after he was hit in the head by a line drive during a 10-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Cueto was struck in the forehead by Billy Burns' liner on his first pitch, knocking off his cap. The ball caromed into center field for a double.
''It was more of a glancing blow but it caught him pretty good,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ''It was a scary moment. He spotted well and answered all the questions, which is why he stayed in.''
The right-hander was examined by trainers, took a couple of warmups and finished his three-inning stint. Originally, the Giants announced he was then taken to the hospital for a precautionary examination. Later, the team clarified that he did not go to the hospital and instead was brought back to the club's complex in Scottsdale and treated for a bruise.
The Giants planned to monitor Cueto through Tuesday.
Cueto gave up three runs, all on Josh Reddick's homer, and five hits. He walked one and struck out two.
A free agent this offseason, Cueto signed with San Francisco for $130 million over six years.
Oakland ace Sonny Gray pitched effectively into the fifth inning. Danny Valencia homered for the A's, and Burns had two hits and two RBIs. Marcus Semien also had two hits.
Matt Duffy homered off Gray in the fourth.
STARTING TIME
Giants: Cueto made an impression by staying in the game after taking Burns' line drive off his head. ''It shows how tough he is that in a spring training game he was adamant to keep pitching,'' Bochy said. ''His second and third innings were good innings.''
Athletics: Gray didn't know how many pitches he was scheduled to throw or how many innings he was supposed to go. He lasted 4 2-3 innings. ''Everybody says it's just spring training and the games don't count,'' Gray said. ''Every time I take the mound it's a game and it's never fun to give up runs or give up hits. Mentally, I'm into every game. I might be working on stuff, but I still want to go and pitch well.''
Gray worked with his full repertoire after working on his fastball the previous time out.
''I felt like my stuff was good,'' he said. ''I didn't walk anybody. I went to more three-ball counts than I would have liked but I came back to challenge them.''
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: RHP Matt Cain threw a simulated game and will likely make his spring debut Friday against the San Diego Padres.
Athletics: RHP Jarrod Parker (broken right elbow) was scheduled for a CT scan and X-rays in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning. ... C Stephen Vogt (elbow) made his spring debut on defense. ''I had a lot of energy, a lot of adrenaline,'' he said. ''Under the lights, against the Giants, helps.''
ROSTER MOVES
Oakland optioned RHPs Andrew Triggs and J.B. Wendelken, and INF Joey Wendle, to Triple-A Nashville.
UP NEXT
Giants: San Francisco is off Tuesday and has not announced a starter for Wednesday's game in Peoria against the Seattle Mariners and RHP Hisashi Iwakuma.
Athletics: LHP Rich Hill takes the mound when the team travels to Scottsdale for a game against the Colorado Rockies and LHP Jorge De La Rosa.