Sports

Rays’ Pepiot leaves after hit by 107.5 mph liner

Rays' Pepiot leaves after hit by 107.5 mph liner

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot departed with a lower left leg bruise in the second inning of Sunday’s game against the New York Mets after getting hit by a 107.5 mph line drive hit by Starling Marte.

Pepiot fell immediately to the ground but was able to get back up on his own. He was removed after throwing a couple of warmup pitches from the mound.

The team said X-rays were negative. Pepiot said he doesn’t expect to miss his next start.

“He’s going to be sore tomorrow, but optimistic he’ll be good to go,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Pepiot is 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA in seven starts. He was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last December in a trade where the Rays sent ace Tyler Glasnow to the National League club.

The right-hander was charged with three runs and three hits over two-plus innings. He went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA over his previous three starts.

The Rays won Sunday’s game 7-6 in 10 innings to complete a three-game sweep over the Mets.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.