More bad blood? D-backs’ Chris Iannetta takes pitch to the face against Pirates

Catchers are known for being the toughest players on a baseball team and are forced to wear pitches often.

But that’s with the gear on and not in the face.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta took a fastball to the face during his at-bat in the seventh inning of Friday night’s ballgame at Chase Field.

In what was an 11-4 D-backs’ lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates at the time, Iannetta immediately dropped to the ground after getting hit with the errant pitch from bullpen righty Johnny Barbato.

The home plate umpire didn’t hesitate to call the Diamondbacks’ trainer to the scene, and Iannetta was forced to leave the game, visibly bleeding as he walked off the field.

D-backs’ manager Torey Lovullo said after the game that his catcher “was up and walking around” but is in the hospital because the injury is to the head.

On Saturday, the Diamondbacks gave an update on Iannetta’s condition.

Chris Iannetta received stitches in his upper lip & suffered a couple of fractured teeth and a nose fracture. He is still being evaluated.

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 13, 2017

Coincidentally or not, Diamondbacks right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen nailed Chris Stewart with his own pitch in the ninth inning.

If anything more will happen from here on out in terms of a beanball fest is anybody’s guess, but recent history points to the Diamondbacks and Pirates have not been forgiving with each other before.

Paul Goldschmidt was nailed in the hand in 2014 that forced him to sit the rest of the season. A plunking war continued long after between the two clubs, which included Andrew McCutchen taking one in the middle of his back, prompting a Randall Delgado ejection.