PHOENIX - It was difficult to imagine anything at Chase Field could get any uglier than the result of the 11th pitch thrown to begin Tuesday night’s game between the Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks. But then the bottom of the second inning took place.
Maikel Franco was drilled in the left hand with a fastball and the pain was so severe, the rookie third baseman hopped to a clear area of grass behind home plate and dropped to the ground in pain. Later, an X-ray would come back negative.
Franco and the Phillies may have dodged a dangerous bullet.