By PATRICK GORDON | Managing Editor
March 5, 2016, 9:45 A.M. EST.
@PGordonPBR
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Aaron Altherr dove for a ball in yesterday's first inning and landed awkwardly on his left hand. He stayed in the game for the rest of the half inning before pulling himself when the Phillies came to bat.
The right fielder is out of the lineup Saturday as the club faces the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I wasn’t real comfortable playing on it and it’s still early in spring training,” Altherr said. “I didn’t want to risk anything.”
As of Saturday morning, Altherr's left wrist is in a splint and he has not yet had X-Rays. Manager Pete Mackanin said Altherr is day to day.
“Hopefully it’s not very serious and he can get back in there real quick, because we want to get everyone the at-bats and we want these guys to compete,” Mackanin said. “So hopefully he’s OK.”
Altherr has dealt with wrist injuries before. He broke his right wrist in December of 2013 after he slid into third base during a game in the Arizona Fall League. The injury required surgery and impacted his start to the 2014 season.
"This isn't even close," Altherr said. "I should be good to go shortly."
Sick clubhouse
Ryan Howard is the latest player in camp to fall victim to an illness hitting Phillies' camp.
“Guys have been taking turns going home," Mackanin said. "I asked (Howard) if wanted to play and he said let me take it at-bat to at-bat. After that second at-bat - he was all congested and didn’t feel right.”
Howard struck out to begin and end Friday's second inning.
Tough final two frames
Cedric Hunter hit a three-run walk-off homer on Friday, lifting the Phillies past the Braves, 12-11.
All would have been well, except for the fact the Phillies had a six-run lead entering the eighth inning.
Luis Garcia allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in the eighth, and Hector Neris surrendered four runs in the ninth as the Braves took an 11-9 lead. Darnell Sweeney committed two errors in the game at second base, one fielding and one trying to finish off a double play started by J.P. Crawford.
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