NewsHamels leaves game with ankle sprain
Phillies ace injured while fielding Nats' bunt in fifth inningBy Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
04/28/09 8:30 PM ET
PHILADELPHIA -- Cole Hamels can't catch a break.The Phillies ace lefty left Tuesday night's game against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park after he sprained his left ankle in the top of the fifth inning trying to field a bunt.
Hamels, who has suffered two other setbacks this year, tried to throw one pitch under the supervision of manager Charlie Manuel and others, but it did not go well. Hamels flipped the ball in the air and walked off the field and into the dugout.
Hamels missed time in March because of inflammation in his left shoulder, which forced him to miss his scheduled start Opening Night on April 5. He made his debut April 10 in Colorado, but struggled. He appeared to be returning to form Thursday against Milwaukee, but left the game in the fourth inning after a line drive struck him in the left shoulder.
He was pitching beautifully Thursday. He had allowed just four hits and two walks through 4 1/3 scoreless innings when Nationals pitcher John Lannan bunted in front of the mound. As Hamels dropped to field the ball, he rolled the ankle. He flipped the ball in the air as he rolled his body over and immediately grabbed his left ankle.
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
