Cesar Hernandez injury mars Phillies' win

THE PHILLIES' ability to win back-to-back games for the first time in more than two weeks - by way of a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs yesterday - was marred by a likely season-ending injury.

Cesar Hernandez' breakout season probably came to an end three weeks before the Phillies play their final game. Hernandez suffered a dislocated left thumb as a result of an ugly collision with Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo when the Phillies infielder couldn't corral a ground ball or stop his momentum, either.

Hernandez, who wasn't available to the media following the game, is scheduled to see a hand specialist today.

"It's dislocated and there's some concern about the ligament," manager Pete Mackanin said. "So it doesn't look good for the rest of the year, but we'll just wait and see when he sees the hand specialist."

With two on and two out in the seventh inning, and the Phillies leading by one run, Hernandez charged a high-hopping ground ball off Rizzo's bat and fielded it cleanly. But as he continued running toward first base, Hernandez fumbled the ball, attempted to recover, but instead ran right toward the baseline where he collided with the 240-pound Cubs slugger as the tying run scored.

Both players collapsed to the ground and were shaken up, but it was Hernandez' left thumb that took the brunt of the hit. Hernandez, 25, hit .272 with a .339 OBP in 127 games this season, supplanting Chase Utley as the team's regular second baseman when Utley was on the disabled list for two months.

"He's disappointed, obviously," Mackanin said. "We'll wait and see [Monday]."

The Phillies are expected to add an infielder today; Tyler Pastornicky and Chase d'Arnaud finished their seasons at Triple A Lehigh Valley last week. Darnell Sweeney, acquired in the Utley trade last month, is expected to see playing time at second base.

Sweeney started 44 games at second base this season at Triple A Oklahoma City, but has been used primarily in the outfield since joining the Phillies.

"During [batting practice] I make sure I'm keeping my second base [preparation], taking ground balls and trying to keep sharp because you never know what can happen," Sweeney said. "I'm just waiting for an opportunity."

The young Phillies players who have received opportunities helped guide the team to yesterday's victory in front of 23,450 at Citizens Bank Park. Aaron Altherr, installed as an everyday outfielder a month ago, went 2-for-3 with a walk and two extra-base hits; fellow rookie Odubel Herrera kept his batting average hovering near .300 (.299) with two hits; and Freddy Galvis went 3-for-5 with an eighth-inning, two-run double that gave closer Ken Giles a cushion for the ninth inning.

Galvis is hitting .267 with a .658 OPS in his first full season as an everyday shortstop, up from his previous career averages of .218 and .621. Galvis, 25, hit .176 in 43 games with the Phillies last season.

"He's done very well, especially looking at him in past years," Mackanin said. "I don't think anyone was convinced he was going to hit. He's carrying himself very well and he's doing a good job at the plate. He's making a few more errors than we'd like to see, but that comes in time, and it's a part of the game. But I think he can cut down on his errors and I think he can be a solid everyday shortstop."

Altherr, meanwhile, doubled and scored on Ryan Howard's 22nd home run of the season in the third inning and then tripled and scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the seventh. Altherr is hitting .250 in 23 games since being recalled from Triple A and 12 of his 19 hits have gone for extra bases.

"I don't really try to focus on trying to hit extra-base hits, I just try to put the barrel on the ball. And wherever it goes, that's where it goes," said Altherr, who hit cleanup yesterday.

"He's a good-looking young athlete and I think he's got a chance to be a really good player," Mackanin said. "Numbers count . . . He's already made a good first impression. But batting average and production counts. So that's the next step. We'll see what he produces. But you've got to like him. I like him a lot."

Following Friday's doubleheader sweep by Chicago, the Phillies' back-to-back wins over the weekend marked the first time they had won consecutive games since Aug. 29. Perhaps a visit from the Cubs was just what they needed. Despite being tied with Atlanta for the worst record in baseball while the Cubs entered yesterday with the fourth-best record, the Phillies took five of the seven games between the teams this season.

"It's nice to beat a good team like the Cubs," Mackanin said.

"They're a tough lineup," said Aaron Harang, who was lifted after giving up three runs in five innings. "They're young and aggressive but they can also be patient - they have a good idea of what the strike zone is . . . But I felt good, I felt like the ball was coming out well. I was able to spot my fastball when I needed to."

Blog: ph.ly/HighCheese