#Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarez carted off after line drive to ‘private parts’

The Phillies added injury to insult Thursday with a 105.3 mph shot to the groin.

In the midst of getting swept in a doubleheader by the Blue Jays, Jose Alvarez took the hard line drive off the bat of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. below the belt. He was able to finish the play, picking up the ball and tossing it to first base, but then hit the ground in pain and eventually had to be carted off.

Alvarez went for tests, which came back negative.

“It was pretty bad,” he told reporters. “Obviously, it hit me in my private parts. It’s a pain that’s hard to describe. But thank God, I’m feeling much better now. Everything was good in the hospital, nothing bad. Hopefully, I’ll be good in a couple of days.”

Manager Joe Girardi indicated Alvarez would travel with the team to Atlanta but miss at least a few days while recovering. Alvarez was one of the few dependable options in their bullpen, holding a 1.42 ERA across eight appearances.

Gurriel went on to lift the Blue Jays to a walk-off win in Game 1 of the twin bill before the Phillies bullpen collapsed again in Game 2. The Phillies led 7-0 after the top of the first, only to give it all back by giving up seven runs in the sixth inning and losing 9-8.