Major League Baseball

Hunter bruises ribs when he hits wall

Published Jun. 23, 2011 4:54 a.m. ET

foxsports

Retreating on the run in pursuit of a deep fly ball, Torii Hunter said he wasn't thinking about the wall until he hit it.

Then he crumpled to the warning track, the ball in his glove but his left ribs bruised. Hunter left the Los Angeles Angels' 6-5, 10-inning win over Florida on Wednesday night, and his status is day to day.

''My whole inside shook,'' the right fielder said. ''It felt like Ray Lewis hit me. I'm pretty sore.''

X-rays were negative.

''It's just a little muscle thing,'' he said. ''I can play with that. Who cares?''

The four-time All-Star made a long run before stretching out his glove to grab Gaby Sanchez's fly in the fifth inning. As Hunter squeezed the ball, he hit the wall with his left side, then landed on the warning track on the same side.

''The bone in my elbow kind of drove into my ribs,'' he said. ''I felt something inside my ribs and I couldn't breathe. It was like a knot.

''I have to catch it at all costs. But I paid for it.''

Hunter was still on his back when teammates arrived. After a couple of minutes he sat up and then walked off the field accompanied by a trainer.