Brett Myers gave up five runs and seven hits in nearly six innings for Philadelphia before leaving with right hip inflammation as the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Wednesday night.
He allowed just six runs in 21 innings in his previous three starts. Myers said his hip has been bothering him for a while.
"Today was the worst it's been," he said. "It was hard to finish pitches. It's tough, but you have to power through it. I wasn't going to quit. I hope it's nothing serious."
Myers may have an MRI as early as today, according to Philly.com. Even though Myers said he doesn't expect to miss a start. columnist Rich Hoffman said "the words out of Myers' mouth after the game were hopeful, but the look on his face was not. There is real concern here."
Myers told Hoffman his hip has bothered him off and on for years, but this time it was worse. "He talked about 'a sharp pain' at one point. Later, he said, "It kind of runs from my hip down to my knee sometimes. It might be a nerve," Hoffman said.
Charlie Manuel said whatever the outcome, the Phils will have a plan.
While the Phillies still have the best record in the majors at 16-6, they're 9-14 at Citizens Bank Park. The Marlins had lost 11 of 14 before taking two of three from the Phils.
"We had chances, but we couldn't get it done," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
Carlos Ruiz and pinch-hitter Matt Stairs homered for the Phillies.
Dan Uggla hit his ninth homer out to left to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Uggla added an RBI double in the sixth, and Ross connected with two outs to make it 5-1.
Myers has allowed a major league-high 17 homers, including seven in his last three starts.
Batting third for the first time this season with Hanley Ramirez sidelined by a groin injury, the struggling Uggla continued his torrid hitting against Myers. He's batting .389 (14 for 36) with five homers and 14 RBIs off the right-hander.
"We've gotten him and he's gotten us. He has terrific stuff," Uggla said.
