Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg helped off field after hard grounder hits left foot

DETROIT (AP) — Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg was helped off the field after getting hit on the left foot with a hard grounder in Friday night's 7-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit's Riley Greene smoked a 109.1 mph grounder in the seventh inning that caromed off Erceg's foot towards Kansas City first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Greene beat Pasquantino to the bag for a single.

The 29-year-old Erceg stayed on the ground for a few minutes and then limped off the field with the help of an athletic trainer and manager Matt Quatraro. The Royals told reporters that the injury was a foot contusion.

Erceg had thrown 6 2/3 scoreless innings over eight outings this season before Friday.

Erceg's injury was part of another frustrating night for the Royals, who have dropped five straight.

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Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg grimaces after falling to the ground after being hit by a Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene line drive in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg, center, is helped to the locker room after being hit by a Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene line drive in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg throws to first base for an out on Detroit Tigers' Gleyber Torres in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg throws against the Detroit Tigers in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DUARTE, Calif. (AP) — Veteran actor T.K. Carter, who appeared in the horror film “The Thing” and “Punky Brewster” on television, has died at the age of 69.

Carter was declared dead Friday evening after deputies responded to a call regarding an unresponsive male in Duarte, California, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Police did not disclose a cause of death or other details, but said no foul play was suspected.

Carter had been acting for years before a breakthrough role as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classi, “The Thing.” He also had a recurring role in the 1980s sitcom “Punky Brewster.”

Other big-screen roles include “Runaway Train” in 1985, “Ski Patrol” in 1990 and “Space Jam” in 1996.

FILE - Actor TK Carter arrives for the premiere of "The LA Riot" at the Tribeca Film Festival, Monday, April 25, 2005, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)