Miami Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton could face a long spell on the disabled list after getting hit in the face by a pitch from Milwaukee Brewers' Mike Fiers on Friday.

Stanton was struck in the face by an 88 mph fastball during the fifth inning of their 4-2 loss to the Brewers and was immediately brought to the hospital where X-rays and CT scan showed multiple facial fracture below his left eye and dental damages.

Fiers said in an interview that the hit was unintentional. The 29-year-old pitcher also issued an apology to Stanton and his family, and to the Marlins fans.

"I just want to send my thoughts and prayers to Giancarlo Stanton," Fiers said via ESPN. "I would never think of throwing at somebody like that. Never in my life has something like that happened. I'm very sad that it hit them. I'm very sorry to their teammates, their fans, his family. It's just tough."

Tempers flared when Fiers hit Reed Johnson in the hand during the play after Stanton was brought out of the stadium. Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee walked into the on-deck circle and yelled at Fiers, which led to a bench clearing incident.

When cool heads finally prevailed, McGehee was ejected along with Marlins manager Mike Redmond, who was seen complaining to the umpires about the Fiers' pitches.

"He hit a guy in the mouth, No.1," Redmond said. "After he hit Reed in the hand, he looks in our dugout, throws his hands up in the air like 'Hey, why are you guys mad?' You just knocked out our best player, hit him in the mouth, and then you just hit another guy in the hand. What are we supposed to do?"

Reacting to the bench clearing incident, Fiers reiterated that he has no intention to hit Stanton and Johnson.

"For them to think that it was intentional is beyond me, and something I would never do," Fiers said. "It was heat-of-the-moment stuff. I just want to make sure that Stanton's OK. I understand their feelings and everything they were thinking. They've got to respect their teammate and back him up."

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