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After an extended absence from the lineup due to a strained hamstring, Jimmy Rollins is on the verge of returning to the Phillies for the final stretch of the regular season.
Though his injury was never considered serious, Jimmy Rollins missed the Phillies games Friday and Saturday before being sent home on Sunday for an MRI. The results?
MRI reveals Rollins has mild hamstring strain. He will rejoin team tomorrow. Still day to day.
Matt Gelb
magelb
Nothing new learned. Rollins remains on the verge of a return, just as he was late last week. With the Phillies presently a game up on Atlanta, they'll likely be as cautious as possible so as to ensure a healthy Rollins for their two series against the Braves over the final two weeks.
The Phillies' starting lineup for Friday night's game against the Mets is out, and Jimmy Rollins is absent, with Wilson Valdez playing shortstop. However, there's reason to be optimistic, here:
Rollins will take BP. #Phillies
Ryan Lawrence
ryanlawrence21
According to Ruben Amaro, Rollins could play Saturday or Sunday, but could also miss the whole weekend. What's clear is that, while the Phillies aren't exactly sure when Rollins will come back, they are not concerned this his injury is serious.
The last thing the Phillies needed was for Jimmy Rollins to suffer another injury to his leg, but after Rollins had to leave Wednesday's game with hamstring tightness, the team doesn't seem particularly concerned the day after.
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) – Ryan Howard finished 3-for-5 with a three- run homer and tied a season-high with six RBI as Philadelphia built a double- digit lead but held on to top Florida, 10-6, in the finale of a four-game set.
Chase Utley added two hits, two runs scored and drove in two for the Phillies, who took three of four in the series and maintained a half-game edge in the NL East over Atlanta. The Braves routed Pittsburgh, 9-3.
Jimmy Rollins collected two hits and scored a run before leaving in the fourth inning with a tight right hamstring. He is listed as day-to-day.
Cole Hamels (10-10) turned in seven scoreless frames, scattering four hits while fanning five and walking one. The left-hander's consecutive scoreless innings streak was extended to 25 innings over his last four starts, dating back to August 24 against Houston.
Gaby Sanchez hit a three-run blast and Cameron Maybin contributed a two-run double for the Marlins, who have lost four of six.
Andrew Miller (1-1) was tagged in defeat for 11 hits and seven runs over just four innings, boosting his earned-run average to 6.16.
Howard contributed an RBI single in the seventh to get the Phils into double digits with a seemingly safe 10-0 advantage, before Florida hit the scoreboard in the eighth with six runs.
Nate Robertson gave up a single to Emilio Bonifacio and a walk to Logan Morrison before a three-run homer from Sanchez. Maybin later added a two-run double which halved the Marlins' deficit, then a pinch-hit two-out RBI double from Scott Cousins off David Herndon made it 10-6. Mike Rivera grounded out to end the rally.
Herndon walked Morrison with one out in the ninth, bringing on Ryan Madson, who prevented further damage by retiring Sanchez on a pop out and fanning Dan Uggla.
The Phils picked up two runs in the first. Shane Victorino doubled, Utley walked with one out and stole second, then Howard's single that bounced away from Marlins right-fielder Mike Stanton plated both and got Howard to second. Rollins singled with two down but Howard was thrown out at the plate.
In the second, Raul Ibanez stroked a leadoff double, Carlos Ruiz walked, and the bases were loaded when Wes Helms threw away Hamels' attempted sacrifice bunt. Victorino then plated a run with a groundout.
Rollins doubled with two down in the third and after a walk to Ibanez, scored on a Ruiz base hit for a 4-0 Phillies lead.
In the fourth, Placido Polanco and Utley singled with one out ahead of Howard's three-run blast, then Utley added a two-run single in the fifth which put the home team ahead 9-0.
Howard last drove in six during a 12-2 win over Pittsburgh on May 17...The contest ended a stretch of 24 games in 23 days since the Phils' last off day on August 17, during which the three-time NL East champs went 15-9...Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez did not play due to a sore back...Robertson was torched for four hits and six runs with two walks and two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.
Jimmy Rollins left Wednesday night's Phillies game with an apparent injury to his leg. He's left the game with what the team is calling "hamstring tightness" in his right leg. Early word has him listed as day-to-day.
Rollins, who has already spent a lengthy period of time on the disabled list this season with an injury to his calf, was rounding first on a sharp grounder to left when he clearly pulled up a bit. He made it safely to second with a double, but was seen gingerly tip-toeing around the bag while stretching out what appeared to be his right leg.
Two batters later, Carlos Ruiz knocked him in with a single to left. Rollins moved slowly around third but turned up the pace as Logan Morrison's throw came in from left. He avoided the tag and slid home safely, but limped from the plate to the dugout.
Charlie Manuel and team trainer Scott Sheridan evaluated him in the dugout and took him out of the ballgame.
Jimmy did appear to have a slight smile on his face in the dugout before he headed to the clubhouse, but, well, he always does. Wilson Valdez has replaced Rollins in the ballgame.
The Phillies took over the NL East lead on Tuesday night with a win over Marlins at home. Through four innings and now without their starting shortstop, the Phils lead the Fish, 7-0.
(Sports Network) - It wasn't easy, but the Philadelphia Phillies now lead the National League East for the first time since late May.
Cole Hamels will try to keep his squad there as he aims for a third straight victory in the finale of a four-game series with the Florida Marlins tonight at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies posted an 8-7 victory over the Marlins last night, and coupled with a Braves loss to Pittsburgh, moved a half-game past Atlanta for the top spot in the division. Philadelphia hadn't owned sole possession of first place since May 30.
Philadelphia trailed Atlanta by seven games for that spot on July 21, but have gone an MLB-leading 32-14 since.
"It's always good to be in first place. That's the only way to live," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
The Phillies built a 7-4 advantage over the Marlins thanks in part to homers from Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, but a sloppy top of the eighth inning allowed the Marlins to tie things.
However, Victorino singled to start the home half of the eighth, stole second and then scored on Placido Polanco's single with two outs.
Ryan Madson, who allowed the game-tying run to score on a wild pitch in the eighth, locked down the final three outs for the win, the Phillies' seventh in nine games.
Mike Stanton led off Florida's three-run eighth with a homer, his third in as many games, while Brad Davis made it a one-run game when he scored on Jayson Werth's throwing error. Emilio Bonifacio later tied things on Madson's wild pitch after previously getting to third on a balk.
Florida has lost two straight since winning five of six.
"We came back. They came back. It was one of those games," Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez said.
Hamels comes into this start on a bit of a roll. The 26-year-old has won back- to-back starts and thrown 15 scoreless innings since an 0-3 stretch over his previous eight starts that featured a solid 2.83 ERA.
Hamels hurled eight innings of four-hit ball to beat San Diego on Aug. 29, then limited Milwaukee to three hits and three walks over seven frames on Friday, striking out seven to improve to 9-10 with a 3.18 ERA this year.
The southpaw, who has allowed one run or fewer in seven of his last 11 starts, lost his only previous start this year versus the Marlins, back on April 18, despite allowing just two runs over eight innings. He is 2-7 with a 4.26 ERA lifetime versus them.
The Marlins go with lefty Andrew Miller, who has allowed one run or less in three of his four outings this year, including two starts. He beat the Braves on Friday, holding them to just a run on seven hits and three walks over five innings while striking out six.
The 25-year-old picked up his first win since July 4, 2009 and is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA this year. He is 0-3 with a 5.16 ERA in 10 career games versus the Phillies, including five starts.
The Phillies have won five of their last six over the Marlins and lead the season series 9-5.
Jimmy Rollins Available Friday, Targeted To Play Sunday
Jimmy Rollins hasn't appeared in a game since September 8th, thanks to a strained hamstring. The Phillies, as it happens, have gone 11-1 without him, so he hasn't exactly been missed, but even so, there's good news on this front: Rollins should be available off the bench Friday night for the series opener against the Mets, and Charlie Manuel intends to play him on Sunday.
By getting some playing time in the final week, Rollins should be able to work off the rust and get into game shape in time for the playoffs.
Sep 24 5:32p by Jeff Sullivan - 0 comments