PHILADELPHIA — Phillies outfielder Derek Hill was removed from the club’s matchup against the Cardinals on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park with neck stiffness, the club announced. It was the second injury the Phillies dealt with after second baseman Luis Arraez left with lower-body cramps.
“It was kind of a really weird game from that standpoint,” interim manager Don Mattingly said after the team’s 12-3 win, “of you guys kind of getting banged up in there.”
Hill was in center field as the Phillies (72-58) faced left-hander Quinn Matthews and went 1-for-2 with an RBI double. Rookie Justin Crawford pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the sixth inning with Ryan Fernandez on the mound. The team said Hill would be further evaluated.
That was after Arraez exited in the top of the fourth. Mattingly said the Phillies would see how he feels on Sunday ahead of their series finale with the Cardinals. The three-time batting champion has a history of this type of cramping, Mattingly said. Additionally, first baseman Alec Bohm has been dealing with tightness in his groin/hamstring area. It has not affected his hitting, but it seemed to bother him as he stretched for a ball in the third. Kyle Schwarber entered for him on defense in the ninth with the Phillies up big.
Mattingly said the Phillies will have to keep an eye on Bohm. They can go for a series sweep on Sunday, but it’s unclear what their lineup will look like due to the minor injuries.
“Other than the injuries,” Mattingly said, “the offense came out and got after it.”
