Cincinnati Reds CF Billy Hamilton struck in face by line drive

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton left Wednesday's game in the first inning with a facial contusion after being struck in the face by a line drive.

It was yet another crazy play during what's been a wild three-game series between the Reds and Chicago Cubs.

With two runners aboard in the first inning, Anthony Rizzo hit a liner to left-center field.

Left fielder Adam Duvall and Hamilton converged on the ball and nearly collided. The ball caromed off Duvall's glove and struck Hamilton near his left eye while Rizzo raced home for an inside the park homer to stake the Cubs to an early lead.

"First, I hope Billy's alright," Rizzo said. "I turned on the jets. Hey, it counts as much as a 500-foot one."

After being visited by trainers, Hamilton walked off the field through the outfield bullpen gate. Tyler Holt replaced him in center.

Hamilton homered off Jon Lester to start a Reds' rally in Tuesday night's 7-2 loss in 15 innings. He's batting .200 in 11 games since coming off the concussion disabled list.

"It was one of those bang-bang plays," Duvall said. "We both called for it at the same time. I thought we were going to collide. I didn't take my eye off the ball, but I might've flinched a little bit. It hit him pretty good. It ended up rolling pretty far."

Hamilton is in concussion protocol for the second time this season.

"It didn't get him in the eye or the nose. It was more on the cheek," manager Bryan Price said. "I saw him in the fourth or fifth inning and he was in pretty good spirits. He wanted to stay in the game, but in that situation, we made the best decision."

The Cubs won the game 9-2 to complete a three-game sweep.