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Extended netting made a difference at Nationals Park

Chris Archer

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer is viewed through netting as he follows through to the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning of a baseball game in Baltimore, Friday, April 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

AP

Braves first baseman Kelly Johnson lined out to end the top of the sixth inning during Thursday’s game against the Nationals at Nationals Park. He broke his bat after making contact, and a sawed off part of his bat rocketed towards the crowd behind the Nationals’ dugout.

But... there was netting. Nobody got hurt, unlike a fan at Fenway Park last year who was hit by a broken bat shard and suffered serious injuries.

During the offseason, Major League Baseball issued netting recommendations, which suggested stadiums extend netting to the ends of both dugouts. Good thinking.

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