PHOENIX -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda suffered a concussion when he was hit in the head by a line drive during a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night, but tests revealed no fracture or internal bleeding.

"Amazingly, things look really pretty good," Dodgers head athletic trainer Stan Conte said. "The fact that he didn't lose consciousness is a very good sign."

Kuroda was to spend the night at St. Joseph's Hospital for observation.

"We worry about, even though there's no bleeding now, that there could be in the next 12, 14 hours," Conte said. "That's why we want to keep him at the hospital. The first 12-to-24 hours is important. The doctors feel very, very good. In fact, the doctors at the hospital didn't even want to keep him overnight. We thought it would be best just to make sure."

A shot off the bat of Arizona pinch-hitter Rusty Ryal caught Kuroda on the right side of his head with Los Angeles leading 3-0 in the sixth inning. The 34-year-old Kuroda crumpled to the mound, clutching his head, as the ball deflected into the seats behind first base.

"One of the first things he asked out there was if anybody caught the ball out there, if it was an out," Conte said.

All eight Dodgers fielders stood on the mound as trainers tended to Kuroda, who was placed on a stretcher and loaded onto a cart. He raised both of his arms as the cart rolled off the field, and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for tests.

Ryal was awarded a ground-rule double, and James McDonald relieved Kuroda.

Los Angeles led 3-0 at the time of Kuroda's injury, but the Diamondbacks rallied against the Dodgers' bullpen.


Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

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