DETROIT — A tense divisional matchup turned frightening Tuesday night when Cleveland Guardians catcher David Fry was struck in the face by a 99 mph fastball from Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Fry was attempting a bunt in the sixth inning when the pitch rode high and inside, catching him squarely before he could react.

The crowd at Comerica Park fell silent as Fry collapsed near home plate. Trainers from both teams rushed to his side, carefully assessing him while teammates formed a protective circle. After several tense minutes, Fry was able to sit up and was eventually helped off the field for further evaluation. The Guardians later announced that Fry was alert and undergoing tests at a local hospital.

Skubal was visibly shaken. He crouched near the mound, head in hands, as medical staff tended to Fry. When play resumed, the left-hander struggled to regain his rhythm, surrendering three runs that flipped the scoreboard and gave Cleveland a 3–2 lead.

“Your heart stops when something like that happens,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Baseball takes a back seat in that moment. We’re all just hoping David is okay.”

Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch echoed the sentiment. “Tarik feels awful. It’s every pitcher’s nightmare. You never want to see anyone get hurt on a baseball field,” Hinch said.

The incident overshadowed what had been shaping up as a classic pitcher’s duel. Skubal entered the game with one of the league’s best ERAs and had been in control through five innings. Cleveland’s comeback rally, fueled by a pair of doubles and a sacrifice fly after the delay, suddenly carried a heavy emotional weight.

Guardians players admitted it was difficult to stay focused. “We just wanted to win it for David,” infielder Andrés Giménez said. “Seeing him go down like that was scary. We needed to fight for him.”

Fans across social media quickly expressed their concern, with messages of support pouring in from around the league. “That was terrifying,” one post read. “Prayers for David Fry.”

Fry, 28, has been a key depth piece for Cleveland, splitting time between catcher, first base, and designated hitter while providing timely offense. His toughness and versatility have made him a favorite in the clubhouse.

As the game continued, the mood remained subdued. Every pitch seemed secondary to the health of the player who left the field only minutes earlier. For the Tigers, the challenge was regrouping after an unsettling moment; for the Guardians, it was about channeling their emotions into a crucial late-season win.

By the end of the night, Cleveland held on to its one-run lead, but the final score felt almost irrelevant. Baseball, for a few heart-stopping minutes, was simply about the well-being of a fellow competitor.