MESA, Ariz. (AP) – San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto was taken to the hospital Monday night but showed no initial signs of a concussion after he was hit in the head by a line drive that did not knock him out of a 10-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Cueto was hit in the forehead by Billy Burns’ liner on his first pitch in the bottom of the first inning. The ball caromed into center field for a double.
The right-hander was examined by team trainers, took a couple of warmups and finished his three-inning stint. Afterward, he went to the hospital for a precautionary examination.
Cueto was then brought back to San Francisco’s spring training complex in Scottsdale and treated for a bruise, the team said. The Giants planned to monitor him through Tuesday.
Cueto gave up three runs, all on Josh Reddick’s homer, and five hits. He walked one and struck out two.
A free agent this offseason, Cueto signed with San Francisco for $130 million over six years.
Oakland ace Sonny Gray pitched effectively into the fifth inning. Danny Valencia homered for the A’s and Burns had two hits and two RBIs. Marcus Semien also had two hits.
Matt Duffy homered off Gray in the fourth.