Zach Davies leaves game for D-backs after taking line drive off shin

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zach Davies left Monday’s 9-5 win against the Kansas City Royals with a right leg injury.

In a 5-5 ballgame, Davies was pitching to Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the top of the fourth inning with runners on first and second when Witt hit a first-pitch breaking ball directly at the right-hander. The ball went off of Davies’ right shin and the pitcher immediately went down with every baserunner being safe.

Witt’s contact had the ball go 112 mph off his bat right at Davies’ leg.

The 29-year-old pitcher stayed down on the ground for over a minute before getting up and slowly limping off the field.

Zach Davies limps off the field after taking a baseball to the shin. pic.twitter.com/GwCRc0c0Uh

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The injury is being labeled as a right lower leg contusion for Davies. Manager Torey Lovullo said X-rays were negative and Davies will get a follow-up CT scan on Tuesday. Davies said after the game the ball didn’t hit him right on the shin and fortunately made contact with the outside part of his lower right leg.

“Definitely sore but thankfully the X-rays came back with no fracture or anything like that,” Davies said. “Kind of take it day by day and see how it responds.”

Davies’ night ended at 3.2 innings pitched with four earned runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out two. D-backs reliever J.B. Wendelken replaced him and got out of the jam.

Davies entered the night with a 4.35 ERA in eight starts across 39.1 innings pitched. He signed with Arizona in late March.

Arizona third baseman Drew Ellis also left the game with right side discomfort. Lovullo said he will get imaging done for the injury on Tuesday.

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