Royals pitcher Erceg helped off field after comebacker hits left foot

DETROIT (AP) — Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg was helped off the field after getting hit on the left foot with a hard grounder in Friday night's 7-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit's Riley Greene smoked a 109.1 mph grounder in the seventh inning that caromed off Erceg's foot towards Kansas City first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Greene beat Pasquantino to the bag for a single.

The 29-year-old Erceg stayed on the ground for a few minutes and then limped off the field with the help of an athletic trainer and manager Matt Quatraro. The Royals told reporters that the injury was a foot contusion.

Erceg had thrown 6 2/3 scoreless innings over eight outings this season before Friday.

Erceg's injury was part of another frustrating night for the Royals, who have dropped five straight.

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