Netting collapses, Phils beat Nats; Voth HBP, broken nose

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In a bizarre scene, stadium workers using tractors scrambled to hoist the protective netting behind home plate after it suddenly collapsed Sunday, interrupting the Philadelphia Phillies' 12-6 win over the Washington Nationals.

Several innings after Washington pitcher Austin Voth suffered a broken nose when he was hit trying to bunt and plate umpire Brian O'Nora was forced to leave after being struck in the mask by a foul tip, a most unusual situation developed.

Trea Turner was batting with two outs and nobody on in the eighth inning when the netting behind home plate and over the third base dugout at Citizens Bank Park sagged towards the field without warning.

No one appeared to be hurt in the mishap.

Both teams stood on the dirt around their dugouts as the members of the Phillies grounds crew played a game of tug of war with the wiring, which is connected by guide wires to the facade of the second level.

Tractors were used in the infield to help pull the wiring up before it was eventually connected to allow the game to resume after a 20-minute delay.

Voth, who started in the game in place of Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg in a bullpen game, was injured in the third when he was hit by a pitch from Vince Velasquez while squaring around to bunt.

Voth exited with a towel covering a gash across his inside of his nose after the ball appeared to deflect off the bill of his batting helmet. He was to spend the night in a Philadelphia hospital getting his nose reset.

Velasquez suffered from command issues, allowing three runs on three hit batters, four hits and two walks in four innings.

O’Nora was hit in the mask in the top of the first by a foul off the bat of Josh Bell. O'Nora was examined by Philadelphia’s trainers and stayed in the game, but called...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Netting-collapses-Phils-beat-Nats-Voth-HBP-16228947.php