Phils’ Kingery sidelined by abdominal pain
PHILADELPHIA>> A continuing abdominal issue kept Scott Kingery out of the starting lineup Tuesday, scuttling Gabe Kapler’s game plan and resulting in mild concern.
Kingery had left the Phillies’ extra-inning victory Monday over the Pirates in the seventh inning, complaining of soreness. Afterward, Kapler called that a “precautionary measure.”
Believing Kingery’s discomfort had been “something gastrointestinal-related and not muscular,” Kapler authored an early Tuesday lineup that included him in center against lefthanded Pittsburgh starter Steven Brault. But when the pain had not subsided, Kingery was scratched and scheduled for an imaging test. That forced Kapler into starting Adam Haseley in center, potentially handcuffing him with an entirely lefthanded-hitting outfield with Corey Dickerson and Bryce Harper.
“It would have been nice to get Haseley the day off, but ultimately we needed him,” Kapler said. “He has done pretty well against lefthanded pitching in his minor-league career, and sometimes a different look, the ball coming in from a different angle, can actually be good for a guy. So that’s the positive spin on Haseley playing. But looking in an ideal world, Scott Kingery is a right-handed hitter that we would have had in the lineup.”
While Kapler continues to project optimism about Kingery’s recovery, the Phillies seemed to move past the gastrointestinal diagnosis.
“He is still having a little bit of lower abdominal soreness and we still don’t think it’s muscular but we want to get it checked out through doing some imaging,” Kapler said. “We’re on this one pretty conservatively and want to make sure he’s good to go and not put him in harm’s way.”
Kapler was not certain of the level of the imaging test, but presumed it to be an MRI.
“Once we have that,” the manager said, “we’ll make that decision on how we’ll play him.”
Jay Bruce, on the injured list since July 17 with a right oblique strain, put on a power show during some extra early batting practice Tuesday.
“It’s not hard when they are putting it right there for you,” he shrugged.
It was, though, a sign that he will be ready to help the Phillies as soon as Sunday. He will play for Class AA Reading Friday and Saturday in Trenton.
Though Bruce will be used only as a hitter in those rehab games, pinch-hitting will not be his sole September role for the Phils.
“No,” he said. “I’ll be available to throw maybe 10 days to two weeks after I come back.”
Despite his substantial missed time, Bruce has 24 big-league homers (14 for the Mariners), which Tuesday placed him behind only Harper (28) and Rhys Hoskins (25) on the Phillies’ list.
J.T. Realmuto threw three runners out attempting to steal Monday, raising his major-league caught-stealing high to 33.
The last Phillies catcher to throw out three runners in a game was Chris Coste in 2007. It had been since Mike Lieberthal in 2002 that a Phils catcher had gone 3-for-3 in that department.
“If he doesn’t win the Gold Glove this year, then it’s an absolute joke,” Harper said. “He’s such a special talent back there. He’s a guy that comes in here and grinds every single day for us and plays every single day.
“Hopefully guys keep going and he keeps throwing them out. It’s the type of player he is.”
Lost in the Phils’ 11-inning victory Monday was a decent, six-inning start from Jason Vargas, who struck out four despite allowing four runs.
“It doesn’t really matter how you get them,” Vargas said. “We’ve got to have them. It was a must-have. Guys came up big.”
Mike Morin, who pitched two scoreless innings, was the winning pitcher.
NOTES >> Adam Morgan was expected to be cleared late Monday for a return from a forearm strain. That medical appointment was pushed back to Wednesday, he said. The left-hander has been on the injured list since June … Vince Velasquez (5-7, 4.93 ERA) and right-hander Mitch Keller (1-2, 7.24) will start Wednesday evening at 6:05 … The Phils will be off Thursday before visiting the Mets for a weekend series.