Posted at 6:20 a.m., Thursday, April 19, 2007
Phillies' Howard out with left leg injury
Advertiser Staff
WASHINGTON — First baseman Ryan Howard was out of the starting lineup today for the Philadelphia Phillies' game against the Washington Nationals because of a left leg injury.The reigning NL MVP hurt himself running out a fielder's choice grounder in the 10th inning Wednesday night but stayed in for the rest of Philadelphia's 5-4 loss in 13 innings.
Howard went 0-for-5 Wednesday to drop his average to .213 for the season.
The Phillies listed him as day-to-day, saying he sprained the ligament that connects the tibia to the fibia just below the knee.
General manager Pat Gillick said X-rays done Wednesday showed nothing was torn and that Howard wouldn't need to have an MRI exam. Gillick also said he didn't think Howard would have to go on the disabled list.
Greg Dobbs started at first base Thursday, with Pat Burrell moving up in the batting order from fifth to Howard's cleanup spot.
