ST. LOUIS • Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday had to leave Monday's game in the eighth inning after a moth flew into his right ear and became lodged in the canal.

Holliday rushed off the field in clear pain and tugging at his right ear after the event.

A team official who spoke with the Cardinals' trainers said the left fielder was taken into a dark room in hopes that the moth would "seek light" and fly out of the ear on its own. That did not work. A trainer then had to use tweezers to reach deep into Holliday's ear and remove the insect.

Team trainer Greg Hauck told a club spokesman that he had had a similar event in the minors.

Holliday was not available for comment after the game, and the team official was not sure if Holliday would see a doctor or a specialist to determine if the moth did any damage while wedged inside his ear. The moth was still alive when they removed it from the left fielder's ear. Holliday was said to be feeling fine when he left the ballpark.

He took the moth with him.

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