Major League Baseball

Arizona LHP Saunders hit by liner in shin, exits

Published Mar. 13, 2012 6:00 a.m. ET

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Diamondbacks pitcher Joe Saunders does not think he will miss any time after being hit in the left shin by a line drive in an exhibition game Monday.

Saunders was struck by a shot off the bat of Cleveland's Carlos Santana in the first inning and was pulled. The Arizona left-hander said he had a little trouble pushing off with the leg in his delivery when he took some warmup tosses.

''It hit me in the side of the shin. If it was in the front I would have been toast,'' Saunders said. ''They will check me out tomorrow. It is probably a bone bruise and is going to be sore.''

Saunders got two quick outs before Santana lined a shot up the middle. Saunders hustled to get the ball and threw wildly to first trying to get Santana, who went to second on the infield hit and error.

''I should have made the play at first, I'm a little upset at that,'' Saunders said. ''Catching the ball, that was another story. You see it and say, `This is either going to hit me or go through my legs.' You have no chance to react.''

Saunders walked to the dugout and was replaced by Joe Martinez.

Saunders was making his second spring start. In two innings against Texas, he gave up five hits and two runs.

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