Tigers' Victor Martinez pulled from game in KC after being hit by a pitch

The Kansas City Royals pummeled the Detroit Tigers pitching staff, but it was Victor Martinez who got the worst of it. In the eighth inning trailing 8-6 with the bases loaded and two outs, V-Mart was drilled in the leg by Kelvin Herrera and removed from the game.

Miguel Cabrera had just struck out on three pitches, all sliders that had him looking silly. With Martinez at the plate batting left-handed, Herrera threw another that got away from him. The pitch nailed Martinez on his kneecap, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said on Fox Sports Detroit's postgame.

"It doesn't seem, at least initially, anything concerning," Ausmus said, noting he hadn't spoken with Martinez yet after the game. "But there was a scare. My guess is it'll end up being fine. It (the feeling) came back pretty quickly as he was sitting on the ground."

Immediately, V-Mart collapsed into a heap on the ground on the plate in pain. After a short time, he was able to get to his feet after manager Brad Ausmus and head athletic trainer Kevin Rand came out to ensure he was OK.

Martinez said he was fine and stayed in the game, but not for long. Still in obvious pain after making it to first base, Andrew Romine was called on by Ausmus to pinch run for V-Mart.

Martinez told reporters after the game he would be good to go for Wednesday's game.

"I knew right when it hit me it wasn't something serious," he said. "It was sore, pain from the hit, but that was it. Burning. I've never been hit by a baseball and it burns."

The move may have been precautionary, as his right knee is not the knee he's injured repeatedly, but it was still an ugly hit. After the inning ended, Herrera was seen apologizing to Martinez as he walked off the field.

This post will be updated if more information becomes available.