WASHINGTON — Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard left Sunday’s game against Washington with a sprained left ankle. Howard was injured as he scrambled back to second base after a throw from Nationals right fielder Michael Morse.
Howard, who is in an 0-for-14 slump, reached base when he was hit by a pitch on his right elbow from Washington starter John Lannan.
X-rays taken on his ankle and elbow were negative, but he was using crutches as he left the clubhouse.
“It’s just swollen. It’s tight, sore. Other than that, it’s not too, too bad,” Howard said.
Wolf leaves game.
Twins left-hander Randy Wolf left the Brewers game against the Astros in the seventh after he was hit on his left wrist on a single by Hunter Pence.
X-rays were negative, but Wolf has a bone contusion. He will fly with the team to Chicago before returning to Milwaukee today for tests.
Footnotes.
The Twins’ Justin Morneau (concussion) took batting practice indoors instead of on the field, as originally planned. “He wants to just kind of ease into it,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. Also, Gardenhire said Joe Mauer was feeling some soreness in his right shoulder after receiving a cortisone shot, and the reigning AL MVP might be available to DH today.
• Royals right-hander Gil Meche will try coming back as a reliever instead of opting for shoulder surgery.
• Stephen Strasburg threw for the first time since he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 29, and everything went well. He’ll play catch again in Arizona today.
• Ted Lilly will start Tuesday when the Dodgers host first-place San Diego in a key NL West matchup.
• The Reds optioned pitcher Carlos Fisher to Triple-A Louisville to make room on the roster for 41-year-old right-hander Russ Springer, who is expected to join the team today.
• The Astros signed starting pitcher Brett Myers to a two- year, $21 million contract extension. He is 8-6 with a 3.10 ERA and has pitched at least six innings in each of his 21 starts this season.
The Associated Press
