Skip to content
Phillies
Link copied to clipboard

Phillies Notebook: Papelbon 'sore' but not injured

He will be available against Angels tomorrow

Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. (Laurence Kesterson/AP)
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon. (Laurence Kesterson/AP)Read more

NEW YORK - Yesterday afternoon, the starting pitcher who threw 99 pitches 2 days earlier was available to pitch out of the bullpen, but the closer who threw a total of 21 pitches over 2 nights was not.

Roberto Hernandez was summoned into yesterday afternoon's game in the ninth inning in an attempt to avoid further disaster. He pitched admirably in relief of Antonio Bastardo, but the runner he inherited scored, sending the game to extra innings.

Jonathan Papelbon's curious unavailability loomed larger when the Phillies were unable to hold a three-run lead in the ninth inning of a game they eventually lost, 5-4, in 11 innings.

"It was just a down day for him," manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He's not injured . . . He needed a day off."

But then, later in the same postgame media session, Sandberg said his $50 million closer was "sore." He said it was the first time Papelbon has been sore this year.

"It was a little bit neck related," Sandberg said. "He was just kind of generally sore."

Both Sandberg and Papelbon himself don't expect it to affect him going forward. Papelbon will be available tomorrow, when the Phillies return home to host the Los Angeles Angels, they said.

"For sure," Papelbon said.

The Phillies obviously needed him more than ever yesterday. Mike Adams and Jake Diekman were also unavailable.

Adams also had pitched in the two previous games, and he threw 25 pitches on Saturday night. Diekman pitched in the first two games of the series, too, with 26 pitches Saturday.

The Phillies obviously need Papelbon more than ever this season, when they have failed to find any consistent righthanded bullpen help in front of him. Adams only returned from the disabled list last month.

But Papelbon said it was just a normal day off (even though the Phillies are off today and Thursday) and that yesterday was just the result of "the daily grind of the season."

"You know, it's a product of the last couple of games, getting up in the bullpen, tie game, a bunch of times the other night," Papelbon said. "It is what it is."

Papelbon sat in the bullpen and watched his fellow relievers fail to secure what would have been Cole Hamels' 100th career win and a three-game sweep over the Mets at Citi Field.

"I've been through that situation plenty of times in my career," he said. "It's frustrating any time we lose a ballgame we have a chance to win."

Galvis injured

Freddy Galvis won't be returning to the Phillies in the near future.

Galvis, who was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley on Thursday night, fractured his left clavicle (shoulder) yesterday afternoon in Allentown and will need surgery, a source told the Daily News.

Galvis suffered the injury in the sixth inning, when he collided with IronPigs third baseman Maikel Franco as both converged on a foul ball down the third-base line. Galvis slid in an attempt to make the catch and Franco's right knee hit the shortstop's left shoulder as the ball dropped into foul territory.

It's the latest bad break for Galvis. He began the season on the disabled list after suffering a MRSA infection at the end of spring training. Two years ago, he missed the final 3 1/2 months of the season after suffering a pars fracture in his back; he also served a 50-game suspension for a failed drug test related to PED use in 2012.

Galvis, 24, was hitting .048 (2-for-42) in 16 games with the Phillies before he was sent to Triple A on Thursday.

Phillers

First baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf (oblique) and righthanded pitcher Ethan Martin (shoulder) are expected to continue their rehabs at Triple A Lehigh Valley this week, possibly as soon as today. Ruf went 3-for-12 with two RBI in three games with Class A Clearwater since his official rehab assignment started on Thursday. Martin has also appeared in three games (2 2/3 innings) for the Threshers . . . Cole Hamels' 133 pitches yesterday were the most by a Phillies pitcher since fellow lefthander Eric Milton threw 134 pitches on June 19, 2004. Hamels' total was also the most by a major league pitcher since Tim Lincecum threw 148 pitches in his no-hitter in San Diego on July 13, 2013. Hamels' previous career high was 128 (July 21, 2010 vs. San Francisco) . . . With 2 days off this week, the Phils likely will shuffle their rotation again, with Hernandez (who has pitched twice in the last three games) being pushed back. Cliff Lee (3-3, 3.64) and A.J. Burnett (2-2, 2.90) are on tap to start tomorrow and Wednesday, respectively, against Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Raul Ibanez and the Los Angeles Angels at Citizens Bank Park.

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese