Carlos Gomez takes 97 mph pitch to head

Cory Collins

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Carlos Gomez takes 97 mph pitch to head image

Noah Syndergaard stood on the mound in the top of the sixth inning, having surrendered just his second hit of the day as he cruised toward his first career win, the Mets ahead 5-0 on the Brewers. Flushing was celebrating its latest pitching phenom.

But what followed was a scary scene.

Syndergaard's 97 mph fastball slipped, and riding up and in, hit Carlos Gomez on the helmet, prompting team trainers to run to his side.

Somehow, Gomez would stand, and later, smile, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, who reported that not only had Gomez passed concussion tests, but he planned to play on Monday.

"I think so, the way I feel," Gomez told McCalvy. "I think I could have stayed in the game today, but I have a history in the past of a couple concussions, and my manager didn't want to take a risk. I understand that. But everything is fine. I understand what's going on."

Gomez came away with a helmet-shaped bruise along his jawline. But he knows it could have been much worse. 

"I got lucky," he said.

Gomez has already missed some time this season, playing in only 19 of the Brewers' 38 games due to a hamstring injury. He's currently hitting .266/.275/.481 with three home runs on the season.

Syndergaard, the Thor doppelgänger known to "drop the hammer," finished the game with five strikeouts and just one earned run through six innings. He had plenty to celebrate. But he still took the time to offer a little Twitter love to Gomez and ease any tension between the two.

All, it seems, is well.

Cory Collins