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Fenway Park fan hit by bat in 'serious but stable' condition

The Fenway Park fan hit by shards of a shattered bat during Friday's Red Sox game is in 'serious but stable' condition according to the Boston Police Department.
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The Fenway Park fan hit by shards of a shattered bat during Friday's Red Sox game is in serious but stable" condition according to a Boston Police Department spokeswoman. 

The spokeswoman added, according to the Boston Globe, that the fan is "expected to survive."

The female fan, identified as Tonya Carpenter, suffered serious injuries after being struck in the face with a piece of wood after Oakland's Brett Lawrie broke his bat in the second inning Friday night. The shard went careening into the stands and hit Carpenter, sitting with her husband and son on the third-base side. Her screams were immediately audible both to fans in the stadium and on the team radio broadcast, according to the Globe's report.

“Tonya Carpenter was admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center last night following injury at Fenway Park,” Carpenter’s family said in a statement released Saturday. “She is in serious condition."

“Tonya’s family and loved ones are grateful to all who have reached out with thoughts and prayers but are requesting privacy at this time as Tonya recovers.” 

The game was halted as Carpenter was carted off on a stretcher after several minutes of medical attention. It became a nervous spectacle, and fans "applauded softly" as she was taken into the tunnel.

“Our thoughts and concern and certainly our prayers go out to the woman who was struck with the bat, her, and her family,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after the game, according to the Globe. “All you can think about is a family coming to a ballgame to hopefully get three hours of enjoyment and unfortunately with how close our stands are to the field of action . . . an accident like this tonight, it’s certainly disturbing.”

Graphic photos reveal Carpenter bleeding profusely from the head. Lawrie said he didn't realize the severity of the injury at first. He was asked if anything could be done to prevent similar incidents.

• 'Serious' injuries for Fenway fan hit with broken bat

“The only thing there, you’ve got limited netting here in Boston," Lawrie said. "When you’re behind home plate and you’re along the third base side and first base side, you’ve really got to be heads-up for foul balls, anything coming into the stands, because it’s so close there’s really no time to react."

“You try to keep her in your thoughts,” he added. “Hopefully everything is all right.”

Jeremy Woo