NEW YORK -- Brandon Phillips' second at-bat of Monday's 5-3 loss to the Mets was a painful one. Batting in the top of the fourth, the Reds' second baseman first fouled two balls off his left shin while facing right-hander Noah Syndergaard. Then, on an 0-2 pitch -- a 98-mph fastball -- Phillips was hit on the left ring finger by Syndergaard.
That was the pitch that forced Phillips to leave the game. Phillips spent a couple of moments down, doubled over in clear pain, before walking off the field with Reds head trainer Steve Baumann.
X-rays taken during the game were negative, the Reds announced during the fifth inning.
"'Thor' got me today," Phillips said of Syndergaard. "It was a sad at-bat. It didn't feel good. I'll take the 'L' today."
Phillips is considered day to day, manager Bryan Price said. The 34-year-old veteran will be needing treatment on both his hand and leg.
"It didn't feel too good; it's kind of swollen right now," Phillips said of his finger. "Just like I've got an egg on my shin. It's not a good day."
Phillips said the two fouls balls hit him on the same spot on his shin.
"It was terrible," Phillips said. "That's probably the most painful at-bat I ever had in my career."
"The first two he fouled off his foot were sinkers in, so I continued to pound him inside with sinkers," Syndergaard said. "I'm glad he's all right, that he was able to get out of that with no injury. But part of the reason was just because my mechanics weren't as crisp as they normally are."
Ivan De Jesus Jr. pinch-ran for Phillips and took over for him at second base in the bottom of the fourth.
Phillips was 1-for-2 with an infield single to the hole at shortstop to lead off the second inning. That hit extended his hitting streak on the road against the Mets to 33 games, including all 23 games he's played at Citi Field.
Hand injuries have plagued Phillips in recent seasons. After trying to make a catch in 2014, he torn a left thumb ligament and needed surgery. That injury caused him to miss 33 games. In 2013, Phillips missed four games when he was hit on left forearm by Pirates reliever Tony Watson. Phillips wasn't the same at the plate the rest of that season.
"Hopefully, I can play tomorrow," Phillips said before acknowledging that Price plans to keep him out of the lineup. "But hopefully I can convince him. It depends on how I feel, too. Hopefully I can heal good and come here and get a 'W.'"