An unusual delay happened Tuesday night.
During the Phillies’ 5-0 home victory over the Nationals, the game had to be stopped during the seventh inning as Trea Turner faced Zack Littell when the umpire noticed a green pigment hitting Turner’s upper half — including his face — ahead of an 0-2 pitch.
“I see it, I see it,” home plate umpire Tom Hanahan said as those in the Philadelphia dugout pointed out the unwanted laser that appeared to be coming from the outfield and told Turner to take a moment.
“You alright?” Hanahan asked Turner, who appeared confused as play stopped. “A laser was shining on your chest.”
The delay lasted less than a minute, and no fan was identified or thrown out of the game, though most of the onlookers were pointing towards the first-base line and right-field area for a potential culprit.
“What kind of person brings a laser to a game?” NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jon Kruk said on the telecast.
On top of being dangerous and potentially harmful to the eyes of someone who is getting a laser shined into their eyes without their knowledge, such an act can also be distracting.
Turner, though, did not show any ill effects during his at-bat, ultimately lacing an RBI single to plate the game’s final run.
Jesus Luzardo was the star of the game for the Phillies, as he twirled a dazzling eight-inning shutout before trade deadline acquisition Caleb Kilian shut the door in the ninth inning.
The Phillies stand at 61-53 and four games back of the Cubs for the top Wild Card spot.
Interim manager Don Mattingly’s group limped into the trade deadline with their offense scuffling and star slugger Bryce Harper publicly pushing for a trade.
They acquired former Met Brooks Raley as well as Luis Arraez at the deadline in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
