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Boston Red Sox: Photographer hit in groin on ceremonial first pitch

By Alex Butler

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Photographer Tony Capobianco managed to get a great photo recently at a Boston Red Sox game, despite taking a baseball to the groin.

The Eagle-Tribune and Gloucester Times photographer was standing behind home plate Wednesday, before the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 at Fenway Park.

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Boston was honoring the 1967 Impossible Dream team and the Jimmy Fund during the sequence.

Cancer survivor Jordan Leandre took the field for the first pitch, but the offering sailed out of his palm and straight into the groin of Capobianco.

"The moment I realized the ball was coming towards me is when it hit me," Capobianco told UPI.

Capobianco said he now has a bruise on his groin, but the ball missed hitting more sensitive areas.

"I know from the photo it looks like I should've seen it coming but all I really saw was the catcher moving and even then I thought it wasn't come anywhere near me," he said.

Video of the incident has since gone viral. Capobianco posted a great photo from the play, which shows the ball about to hit him.

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Many fans chimed in on the play, including Budweiser. The beer company offered Capobianco a cold brew.

"Hey @TonyCapobianco, sounds like an ice-cold Budweiser is sorely needed. Let us know where to send it (we won't miss)," Budweiser tweeted.

Capobianco is now laughing off the affair and has watched his Twitter following increase by hundreds overnight.

"It's comedy now but it was one inch away from tragedy," he said.

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