By Sam Bush
Even on a night when the Phillies knocked off the best team in baseball, the Phillies got some sobering news:
Left fielder Jay Bruce left in the third inning with a right intercostal or oblique strain. He injured himself on a check swing.
Bruce will undergo an MRI exam today.
“It’s something in my rib cage, the front of my rib cage, which is different than an oblique,” Bruce said. “I know it’s all kind of intertwined in there. But I’ve never had anything this far up front in my ribs. It’s like on my ribs. But we’ll see. It really grabbed on me. I planned on continuing the at-bat, but I just wasn’t able to. It’s frustrating, man. Really frustrating. But there’s nothing I can do. Hopefully I can use whatever time it takes to get better and heal and be ready to go as soon as possible.”
Bruce entered the game batting .261 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs since joining the Phils.
If Bruce does need an extended rest, the Phillies could recall Triple-A Lehigh Valley outfielder Nick Williams, who opened the season in the big leagues. He is batting .358 with six home runs, 16 RBIs and a 1.068 OPS in 120 plate appearances with the IronPigs. They also could promote veteran Logan Morrison, whom they just signed to a Minor League contract on Monday. Philadelphia would need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for him.
