MIAMI | Outfielders David DeJesus and Joey Gathright were heavily bandaged but proclaiming they were “fine” — each used that word — after their high-speed collision in Saturday’s 7-3 loss to the Florida Marlins.
The play occurred in the fourth inning with one out and a runner on first. The Royals led 2-0 when Mike Jacobs hammered a Brian Bannister offering into the gap in right-center.
Gathright raced over from center. DeJesus closed from right. They both leaped, collided, and the ball ricocheted toward the infield. Jacobs had an RBI triple before Gathright could retrieve the ball.
“My (left) shoulder came out,” Gathright said, “and then it went back in. It’s all right. We both jumped, and he hit me when my arm was up. After that, I felt it more than I saw it.”
DeJesus was making just his second start in right field since 2004.
“It was one of those balls you can’t really see right off the bat,” he said. “We both were going for it. You can’t really call it, because I didn’t see it. I was just running. We both jumped in the air and hit each other.”
Both players appeared positioned to make the catch had the other not intervened.
“We both had a bead on it,” Gathright agreed. “Things happen. We weren’t calling to each other because we couldn’t see it first. Then we both saw it, so we both went for it. Then the collision happened.”
Etc.
•Shortstop Hanley Ramirez and the Marlins made it official before Saturday’s game: Ramirez will be with Florida through 2014 after signing a six-year extension for $70 million.
•Mark Grudzielanek had three of the Royals’ nine hits. It was his sixth game this season with three or more hits.
•José Guillen’s two RBIs boosted his club-leading total to 26. He has 11 RBIs in a nine-game hitting streak.
•Hitting coach Mike Barnett rejoined the club after missing Friday’s game to attend the high school graduation of his son, Anthony, in Tennessee. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez is Anthony’s godfather. Mike Barnett and Gonzalez coached together at the University of Tennessee.
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