MLB home plate umpire Ron Kulpa was forced to leave the White Sox-Red Sox game at Fenway Park in the fourth inning after getting smacked in the mask by a foul ball.
Kulpa got hit square in the mask by a foul ball off the bat of Chicago’s Jake Burger and dropped straight to the ground. Trainers from both teams rushed out, Red Sox catcher Christian Vázquez turned to help and the rest of the umpiring crew came to the plate.
After sitting for a bit, Kulpa stood up, chatted with Boston’s trainer briefly and walked off on his own. He was replaced behind the plate by first-base umpire Marty Foster after a 20-minute delay and the game resumed with a three-man crew.
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Chicago (14-13) were leading 3-0 when the incident occurred on Sunday. Boston (10-19) made an attempt to close the gap and eventually within one run.
But the White Sox held on for a 3-2 victory to sweep the three-game series.
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