PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Stephen Piscotty traveled back to Jupiter, Fla., for X-rays during Saturday's 14-9 Cardinals win over the Mets, after an errant pitch struck him on the left elbow. The St. Louis outfielder said the X-rays were negative for any serious injury.
"It's a little tender. It's swollen up right now," Piscotty said of his wrapped left elbow. "No bruising yet. We'll see in the morning. We'll take it day by day. I'm pretty encouraged. I've got pretty good strength in my hand. Can't quite extend [arm] all the way, but I'm pretty relieved how it feels after the way it felt when I got hit. It could have done some damage."
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"I've been able to move it," Piscotty said before leaving Tradition Field. "But yeah, it didn't feel good."
The hit-by-pitch was part of a five-batter sequence leading to Mets pitcher Stolmy Pimentel's ejection. Moments after giving up a one-out homer to Carson Kelly and a double to Kolten Wong, Pimentel struck Piscotty in the elbow. As Piscotty returned to the clubhouse for treatment, Pimentel allowed another homer to Randal Grichuk before plunking the ensuing batter, Jonathan Rodriguez. Home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez promptly ejected him.

"I don't think anybody throws at anybody, especially when the wind's [blowing] to left field," said Mets manager Terry Collins, who animatedly argued with Hernandez following the ejection. "You give up fly balls and they're home runs. I don't think you throw at anybody for that purpose. … He hit the guy with a changeup, so I don't think it was intentional."
Piscotty said he did not believe Pimentel hit him on purpose.
"He was throwing some sinkers that just kind of had some extra life," the outfielder said. "It ran into me even more, made tough to get away."
For as long as Piscotty is sidelined, the Cardinals will be without one of their hottest spring hitters. In seven Grapefruit League games, St. Louis' starting right fielder is batting .429 with a 1.029 OPS. He hit .305 with seven home runs in 63 games as a rookie last season.