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Padres reliever Alex Torres is the first pitcher to wear a protective cap in a major league game.

Torres used the oversized gear when he worked the eighth inning of a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night. There was little on-field reaction.

"There really isn't that much difference between this and a regular hat," Torres said. "It may not look great, but I can't feel a difference."

Torres said he's had the cap, approved by Major League Baseball in January, for about a month. He said he tried it on while playing catch on a few occasions before finally wearing it in Saturday night's game.

Asked why he decided to wear it in a game, Torres said: "If it can save your life, why wouldn't you? I'm not worried about how it looks if it works."

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Torres, 26, was with Tampa Bay last season when Rays pitcher Alex Cobb suffered a concussion when he was struck on his right ear by a line drive on June 15.

"That's a scary thing to witness and it makes you think that could be you," he said.

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