Spectacular catch leaves Twins' Gomez with aching back

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) — A spectacular catch by Carlos Gomez Friday made for a scary moment for the Minnesota Twins rookie center fielder.

Gomez was taken off the field on a stretcher after crashing into the wall to make the first-inning catch of a fly ball by Ben Francisco.

After Gomez was immobilized by medical staff and taken off the field, he was taken to hospital for further tests on a lower back injury, which came back negative, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

"He is OK. They checked him out pretty thoroughly," Gardenhire said. "He cracked the wall. He made as good a catch as you will see."

Gomez, who was hobbling around the locker room after the game, said he feared he was hurt much worse.

"I was scared," Gomez said. "I didn't know...