ST. LOUIS - Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was taken off the field on a stretcher with a brace around his neck after getting run over at the plate in the ninth inning Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Molina suffered a mild concussion, and was to be held at a hospital overnight as a precaution, though tests showed no further injuries, the team said.
With the score tied 6-6, Molina had to reach back for a one-hop throw from first baseman Chris Duncan on Jimmy Rollins' bad-hop grounder, and his back was to the plate as he gloved the ball. As he was turning to make the tag, Molina was drilled by pinch runner Eric Bruntlett coming from third base.
Molina showed umpire Tim McClelland the ball, holding it in his right hand, then collapsed.
"How he held onto the ball," said Cardinals reliever Ryan Franklin, "I don't know."
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