NEW YORK — Friday night wasn't a fun one for the Phillies, but they at least avoided disaster. While Bryce Harper's hand was wrapped and sore after the Phils' 5-4 walk-off loss to the Mets, X-rays were negative.
The Phillies have called it a right-hand contusion.
As of now, no further testing is scheduled. Harper is unsure whether he can play Saturday night. It is a tricky spot. The Phillies are fading out of the wild-card race and every game carries extreme importance. Harper wants to play. But exacerbating a hand injury is not something any slugger wants to do.
"I don't know yet. See tomorrow how I feel," he said. "Of course, we're in the stretch right now so if I can be in there, I'm gonna be in there. But gotta be careful too."
Harper could not grip a bat after Steven Matz hit him in the hand with a 92 mph sinker in the third inning. He remained in the game to run but was removed for Sean Rodriguez a half-inning later.
"Any time it squares you up a little bit, it's scary," Harper said. "Definitely wanted to get on first and keep the game going. But yeah, it wasn't good."
Nor was Friday's ending. For the second straight game, reliever Nick Vincent was dealt a walk-off loss. The winning run scored when Vincent walked Pete Alonso with the bases loaded in the ninth.
MLB
The Phillies are 72-68 and remain four games behind the Cubs, who also lost Friday to the Brewers.
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