Tigers' Zimmermann hit in face by liner

In a frightening moment, Detroit Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann sustained a bruised right jaw when struck in the face by a line drive Wednesday night.

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, the second batter in the bottom of the first inning, drilled a 2-2 pitch back up the middle, and Zimmermann had no time to react.

Zimmermann stayed down for a short time as teammates, the club trainer and manager Ron Gardenhire rushed to the mound. Zimmermann eventually walked away with a towel on his face, and the team later announced that his injury was merely a contusion.

On the play, the ball ricocheted off Zimmermann to Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who stepped on the bag for the out.

Zimmermann, 31, entered the game with no decisions and an 8.71 ERA through his first two starts of the season. Last year, he went 8-13 with a career-worst 6.08 ERA.

Zimmermann was a two-time All-Star with the Washington Nationals before he signed a free agent deal with Detroit in November 2015.

--Field Level Media