PHILADELPHIA — The Flyin’ Hawaiian was almost grounded.

Shane Victorino squared to bunt when — whack! — he was drilled on the right hand. Victorino put a scare into the Phillies after he was hit by an A.J. Burnett fastball in the first inning. He shook his head and stayed in the game, scoring on Chase Utley’s three-run homer.
Though x-rays were negative, the Phillies centerfielder was clearly in discomfort the rest of the way in Philadelphia’s 8-6 Game 5 win over the Yankees on Monday night. He gingerly removed his batting gloves after each at-bat and appeared to have trouble gripping the ball on his throws.
He grimaced and shook his wrist after popping out in the second inning.
Victorino, a native of Hawaii, went 0 for 3 and was replaced in the eighth inning by Ben Francisco. Victorino might catch a break with Tuesday’s off day before the Series resumes on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
Victorino didn’t know he was replaced until he saw Francisco in center. Victorino pleaded with manager Charlie Manuel to leave him in the game and move Francisco to left field to replace the slower Raul Ibanez. Manuel shook his head no.
Maybe Manuel should have listened to his All-Star after Ibanez barely failed to grab Mark Teixeira’s double in the eighth.
It’s been a rough World Series for centerfielders. Yankees centerfielder Melky Cabrera has a slightly strained left hamstring and was replaced on the roster.
New York’s Brett Gardner made a fantastic catch to rob Jayson Werth in the fifth inning. He made a leaping, outstretched grab and slammed his back into the wall. He was down for a few minutes, but also stayed in the game.