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GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone above his left eye but has no other serious injuries after being hit in the face by a line drive in a spring training game. Team doctor Timothy Kremchek said Chapman could be playing again in six to eight weeks. The left-hander with a fastball that has reached 105 mph hopefully will start exercising and throwing in a couple of weeks, Kremchek said. The doctor called Chapman "a very lucky guy." Kremchek said a metal plate will be inserted in the bone above his left eyebrow, with perhaps a bone graft as well, and will remain there permanently. Chapman has a very mild concussion but no other brain injury and no injury to his eye, Kremchek said. "Hes feeling better and he has some pain management. Were optimistic that he is going to be on the mend," Reds manager Bryan Price said after meeting with players Thursday morning at the teams spring training facility. "Obviously, well stay in touch. We will make sure we follow the process as we continue to get familiar with the injury itself. We will let him know how much support he has and that we care about him. Hopefully, we will see him here very soon." Catcher Brayan Pena, a fellow Cuban and Chapmans close friend, was one of several Reds players who visited the injured pitcher Wednesday night and spoke to him on the phone Thursday morning. "He was talking to me and we joked a lot," Pena said. "He just wanted to make sure for me to tell everybody that he appreciate so much the fans prayers, especially our teammates, our coaching staff, everybody around, how much support and how much love he received and got from all of us." Pena said Chapman was very happy when they spoke Thursday, "talking and joking. He was talking a lot about some Cuban jokes and thats good because that means his memory is still working pretty good." The frightening incident, widely available on video via the Internet, occurred in the sixth inning of Wednesday night game at Kansas Citys spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz., when the Royals Salvador Perez lined Chapmans 99 mph fastball into the pitchers face. Chapman was knocked backward to the ground, then rolled on his face, kicking in pain. Pena rushed to the mound. "Honestly when I saw it I wanted to cry," Pena said. "That was my first feeling because it was very scary. It was very scary because I saw the line drive going straight for his face, and then I saw him bleeding and kicking and moving around the way he was." Pena said Chapman "wasnt even talking. He was just like moaning and making sounds and then when I got there I panicked because I didnt know what else to do. Then the medical staff guys got there, and those guys were great." Chapman was taken off the field in a stretcher as the crowd fell into an eerie silence and the game was called off. The pitcher was taken to a nearby hospital, then transferred to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. Kremchek said he expected Chapman to remain hospitalized for a couple of days, perhaps being released on Saturday. The ball hit Chapman in one of the most protected areas of the skull, the doctor said. "If you get hit in the side of the head, that could be disastrous," Kremchek said. "Where Aroldis got hit, you dont want to say he got hit in a good spot because hes undergoing surgery, but it could have been a lot worse, a lot more injuries, a lot more permanent. Hes very lucky." The 26-year-old Chapman has a fastball that regularly tops 100 mph. The two-time All-Star defected from Cuba in 2009 and made the Reds club in his first season of 2010. He had 38 saves each of the past two seasons, with 122 strikeouts in 71 2-3 innings in 2012 and 112 strikeouts in 63 2-3- innings in 2013. Price, a former pitcher, said pitchers are in a dangerous situation, "regardless of how hard you throw." "Its hard to defend yourself from 53, 54 feet," the manager said. "And everyone finishes their pitches differently. Everyone is not in a perfect fielding position and even if you are there is no guarantee that you can protect yourself when a balls hit that hard." Major League Baseball approved a protective cap for pitchers this winter following several terrifying scenes similar to this one in the last few years. The hats were available for testing during spring training on a voluntary basis but most have rejected them. Besides, the hats would offer no protection to the face, where Chapman was hit. Chapman particularly wanted to thank the Royals organization for its support and offer assurance to Perez that it is just something that happens in baseball and was not his fault. Pena said he also felt some responsibility. "I kind of blame myself a little bit because I could have called slider or I should have called changeup," Pena said. "Thats your thought process. Everything goes through your mind and youre looking for answers. ... You kind of put yourself in that guilt feeling." But Chapman, Pena said, told him "You know, its not your fault. I should have thrown slower. Im the one feeling very bad about it and hes the one thats cheering me up. Hes the one in the hospital." Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . "Canada," Bolland said with a smile. "Is that a question?" One day earlier, though, fellow Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri wasnt so sure his home and native land could pull off the win against the United States in the semi-finals of the Olympic hockey tournament. NFL Jerseys From China . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. 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BARCELONA, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo helped Real Madrid reclaim sole possession of the Spanish league on Sunday, scoring one goal and setting up another in a dominant 3-0 victory over 10-man Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu. Ronaldo recorded his league-leading 24th goal of the season to get Madrid rolling in the 11th minute. The Ballon dOr winner then passed for Marcelo to score in the 49th and ensure Madrid extended its undefeated streak in all competitions to 29 straight matches. With Madrid firmly in control, the game turned testy with several bookings until David Navarro saw a direct red for tackling Ronaldo from behind in the 64th. Ronaldo went close to getting another goal when he hit the crossbar after Levante defender Nikos Karabelas had already turning in an own goal in the 82nd. Madrids win came a week after Ronaldo scored to salvage a draw at Atletico Madrid, and it lifted Carlo Ancelottis side three points clear of its crosstown rivals at the top of the table. Barcelona was left four points adrift of the pacesetters following Saturdays stunning 1-0 defeat at Valladolid. "Its an important moment because everything is turning out well and there is a good atmosphere surrounding the team," said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. "We have to continue forward. We have a small advantage in the league but we cant think about anything other than the next game. Its risky not to." Madrids placid outing was tarnished when fullback Dani Carvajal collapsed with an apparent leg injury and had to been carried off in the 90th, leaving the hosts with 10 men for stoppage time. Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 at Valencia to increase its hold on fourth place and the last Champions League berth. Sevilla routed Almeria 3-1 on the road to earn its third consecutive victory, while Espanyol also eased to a 3-1 home win over Elche. Levante was without its two first-choice midfielders in Papakouly Diop and Simao Mate, but it arrived on an eight-round unbeaten run, largely thanks to the outstanding play of goalkeeper Keylor Navas. And Navas did welll to get a glove on Ronaldos volley to turn back the matchs first goal-bound shot in the sixth minute.dddddddddddd There was no denying Ronaldo a second time, however. The Portugal forward rose up to meet Angel Di Marias corner kick and thump the ball beyond Navas, who got a touch on the ball but not enough to keep it out of his net. "Ronaldos goal was a blow," said Levante coach Joaquin Caparros. "But if he hadnt scored then, Madrid would have scored another way." Ronaldo passed for Marcelo to put the result beyond doubt when he drew in two defenders and slid the ball for the fullback to use a smart change of foot to open up an angle and curl his shot home. Madrid would have enjoyed an even bigger win except for Navas, who denied Karim Benzema on four occasions, including one feline leap to push Benzemas header off this post in first-half injury time. Navarros sending off inflamed Caparros. The veteran coach stormed out of the dugout and engaged in a brief shouting match with some Madrid supporters in the stands. Madrid pressed for another goal, with Benzema heading the ball off the woodwork again in the 72nd before Navas bettered him twice more. But the third goal eventually fell thanks to Karabelas flubbed clearance of a cross by Marcelo. After a short delay due to a power outage that had left Mestalla stadium in the dark, Valencia struck first through Pablo Alcacers goal in the 23rd. But Aritz Aduriz levelled in the 53rd with a penalty kick after Sofiane Feghouli fouled Ander Herrera in the area as Bilbao inched seven points clear of fifth-place Villarreal. Sevillas Carlos Bacca, Daniel Carrico and Kevin Gameiro all scored before Aleix Vidal took Almerias consolation goal. Espanyol forward Simao Sabrosa crossed from set pieces for David Lopez and Diego Colotto to score. Luis "Pizzi" Afonsos deflected shot made it 3-0 before Espanyol fullback Juan Fuentes netted an own goal in the 88th. Sevilla remained in seventh place, with Valencia, Espanyol and Levante all in a pack at five points behind. ' ' '