In the midst of a stellar Cleveland Guardians debut, right-hander Noah Syndergaard was struck on the right leg by a line drive in the sixth inning and left Monday’s 7-3 loss to the host Houston Astros.
Syndergaard, 30, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for shortstop Amed Rosario, held the Astros scoreless for five-plus innings.
Leading 2-0 in the sixth, Syndergaard walked Jose Altuve to open the inning. Jeremy Pena followed with a liner off Syndergaard’s lower right leg, but the righty recovered to retire Pena at first base.
Guardians manager Terry Francona and a trainer came out to check on Syndergaard, who threw a few warmup pitches before walking off the field under his own power.
“He’s sore, I think he’s OK,” Francona said after the game. “He got hit kind of on the ankle, but I think it hit enough muscle. … He should be OK.”
Eli Morgan relieved Syndergaard and eventually allowed a three-run, go-ahead homer to Astros star Yordano Alvarez.
In 5 1/3 innings, Syndergaard was charged with one run on two hits, with two walks and no strikeouts.
–Field Level Media