X-rays negative, Phillips expects to play Tuesday

CINCINNATI -- X-rays on Brandon Phillips' left shin were negative after he was struck by a foul ball and exited Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Pirates in the fifth inning, and the Reds second baseman expects to be ready for Tuesday's Wild Card Game in Pittsburgh.

With the Reds trailing, 6-3, Phillips hit a 1-0 fastball from Charlie Morton directly into his lower left leg near the ankle. Phillips then backed out of the box and leaned on his bat in obvious pain, and TV cameras showed a noticeable bump where the ball made contact.

Head trainer Paul Lessard and manager Dusty Baker came out to check on Phillips, who finished the at-bat two pitches later with a single to right field. Cesar Izturis promptly replaced Phillips as a pinch-runner, though, and took over at second base in the top of the sixth.

Phillips was relieved to find out the results of the X-ray after watching the immediate swelling on his shin.

"I thought it was broke," Phillips said. "Honestly, I couldn't feel my toes at the time. I was just like, 'Oh my gosh.' That's why I called [Lessard] to come out there. You get hit on the foot and you hit yourself with the ball every once in a while with foul balls, but I never felt anything like that."

Earlier, Phillips connected on a single with runners on the corners in the bottom of the third for his 103rd RBI of the season. He also came around to score later in the inning on Jay Bruce's two-run double.

Although he hadn't talked to Baker about playing Sunday, there's little chance Phillips takes the field for a game that doesn't decide anything. The mark on Phillips' leg was still visible after the game, but he said he felt better and had no doubts about playing in the upcoming Wild Card Game.

"I'm just going to come to the field, get a lot of treatment and try to get everything going so I can be able to help the team win on Tuesday," Phillips said. "As long as I'm playing Tuesday, that's the only thing on my mind."