Phillies Get Beat Up in Pittsburgh, Drop Series to Pirates

BOX SCORE

PITTSBURGH -- Andres Blanco isn’t the type of player who will generate a lot of headlines over the course of a season.
 
But the 32-year-old utility infielder is a favorite of manager Pete Mackanin for his ability to fill in capably at all four infield positions. The nine-year veteran is also popular in the clubhouse for his pleasant nature and unselfishness.
     
The Phillies will be without Blanco for 15 days and maybe longer after he suffered a fractured left index finger in the fifth inning of Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates when spiked on the hand by Gregory Polanco on a play at third base (see Instant Replay).
 
Blanco will be placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday night before the Phillies open a three-game series against the Marlins at Miami.
 
“It’s a tough loss,” Mackanin said. “He is a valuable part of the team. He’s a guy with experience and he’s dependable. Hopefully, we’ll get him back a quicker than we hope. I don’t like the idea of being without him for long.”
 
Blanco will be examined by Phillies’ team doctors Monday in Philadelphia.
 
He needed four stitches to close a cut on the finger. There is a chance he will need surgery both because of the fracture and the risk of possible infection caused by the dirt from Polanco’s spikes getting into Blanco’s bloodstream through the cut.
 
Blanco was making his second straight start at third base in place of Maikel Franco, who was out with a sore left wrist after being hit by a pitch Friday from Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole.
 
Franco took over at third for Blanco, who is hitting .271 with four homers in 75 games this season. Blanco hit a solo home run with two outs in the first inning off rookie right-hander Jameson Taillon to open the scoring.
 
The Phillies lack a true backup infielder beyond Blanco, which makes Taylor Featherstom the most logical candidate to be called up from Lehigh Valley as he is already on the 40-man roster.
 
Acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations just before the start of spring training, the 26-year-old has spent the entire season in the International League and is hitting .264 with 12 home runs in 87 games.
 
The Phillies did get some good injury news as Franco showed no ill effects from his wrist injury and went 1 for 2.
 
Also, catcher Cameron Rupp passed Major League Baseball’s concussion protocol for a second straight day after being hit in the left ear flap of his batting helmet on Saturday by a pitch from Pirates rookie right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Carlos Ruiz started behind the plate as Mackanin wanted to give Rupp an extra day off.
 
"If you get hit in the head, you probably want to take a little bit more precaution than if it was another part of your body,” Rupp said.
 
The Phillies were not happy that Glasnow hit Rupp and starting pitcher Aaron Nola in Saturday’s game, especially after Franco got drilled the day before. However, Rupp said he did not think the 23-year-old was headhunting.
 
“I don't believe the kid did it on purpose,” Rupp said. “It happens. Balls get away from people.”
 
Outfielder Aaron Altherr is also expected to make his season debut Wednesday with the Phillies at Miami. He has been on the disabled list all season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left wrist, an injury he suffered during spring training.
 
Altherr hit .241 with five home runs in 39 late-season games last year after making his major league debut in 2014 and going 0 for 5. He figures to be an offensive upgrade over left fielder Cody Asche and right fielder Peter Bourjos.
 
“Altherr got a taste of it here last year and did very well,” Mackanin said. “He can catch the ball, too, which is important to me. I’m looking forward to having him and seeing if he can build off last season. The lack of production from the corner outfielders has been a bane of ours all season and we could use some help.”