Phillips day to day with 'mild' left groin strain
Reds second baseman exits after second inning, not expected to play in series finale
CINCINNATI -- Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips exited with a strained left groin after the second inning in the Reds' 11-2 victory over the Phillies on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.
"It's just a mild groin strain," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "The reason we got him out, really, was those things, when they get -- it's kind of like an oblique, if it gets to the point where it's really compromised, it can be a much longer recovery time."
Price added that he doesn't expect Phillips to be ready to play in Wednesday's three-game series finale against the Phillies, but he didn't completely rule it out if he feels better in the morning.
Phillips appeared to injure himself when he slid into third base in the bottom of the first inning. However, Phillips returned to the field in the top of the second and made the final out in the bottom of the second, during which he winced while leaving the batter's box on a flyout.
Phillips was replaced by Ivan De Jesus Jr., who moved from left field to second base, and Skip Schumaker was added to the lineup to play left field.
"We made a smart decision on getting him out of the ballgame, and hopefully that'll minimize the amount of time missed," Price said.
Phillips has also battled a recent turf toe injury on his left foot.