Brandon Phillips Has Bruised Forearm

Yesterday, for the third time this week, and the second time in the last two days, Brandon Phillips was hit by a pitch. Pirates reliever Tony Watson plucked him on his left forearm, and at-first, Phillips thought he had broke it.

“When he hit me, I thought it was broke for sure. That was the first thing that hit my mind. It made one of those sounds. I was like, ‘Oh man, I think I might be done.’ I can’t really close my fist all the way.”

On Friday, Phillips was hit by a pitch in a 2-0 ballgame in the 8th inning by Mike Zagurski, Saturday it was also a two run ballgame in the 8th inning. After getting hit on Friday Phillips made eye contact with the pitcher, and shrugged his shoulders, almost like he was saying “Why did you do that?”, but yesterday, after he got hit, he bent over, grabbed his arm, and just walked to first.

He does not think Watson hit him on purpose.

“He tried to bust me in and maybe it was a good pitch. He just missed a spot and hit me. I don’t really know. All I know is, I got hit and I had to go get an X-ray.”

Dusty Baker said he went out to talk to the home-plate umpire, John Hirschbeck, when he made a switch, he asked him about Phillips.

He said it sounded like it hit bone, like it was plastic or something. I was just praying that he was okay. He’s been getting hit a lot lately. It hit him pretty good. I don’t know if he was trying to pitch inside or what was happening. You just don’t want to see people get hurt.”

Dusty Baker also said he probably will not start BP for a couple of games.