Mariners Pitcher Soriano Nearly Killed

Vladimir Guerrero, who hits a baseball harder than anyone we've ever seen, laced a line drive off of Mariners pitcher Rafael Soriano's skull in the 8th inning of last night's 6-4 Mariner win. Greg Bishop of the Times on Soriano's condition:

Soriano suffered a head injury and a concussion, but at Harborview he took a CT scan and an MRI, both of which offered results team physician Dr. Edward Khalfayan termed "reassuring."

Khalfayan said Soriano suffered a "closed head injury," meaning a direct blow to the head, directly behind his right ear. Doctors decided to hold Soriano overnight for observation and take more tests today. That was the extent of information regarding his condition Tuesday night.

Scary pictures are here, courtesy of the P-I.

Manager Mike Hargrove led a team prayer for Soriano during the game, and again after the victory.

Jarrod Washburn told the P-I:

This is the worst I've ever felt after a win. I don't even remember pitching today. I never saw anything like this before, and I hope I never will again.

And Vladimir Guerrero released a statement:

It's a terrible thing to have happened. As soon as I turned around and saw him on the ground, all I could do was pray for him and for his family that he will be OK.

Obviously, no one blames Guerrero in this situation. Soriano has a whip-like motion, similar to Pedro Martinez, and he isn't in good fielding position when the ball reaches the batter.

Only one player in major league baseball history has been killed on the field. Cleveland SS Ray Chapman died in 1920 after being struck in the head by a pitch from Yankees pitcher Carl Mays.