Phils' Kendrick leaves after taking line drive to knee

Sep 13, 2007, 1:10 GMT

Philadelphia, PA - The beleaguered Phillies pitching staff took another hit on Wednesday, when rookie starter Kyle Kendrick left in the fourth inning of Philadelphia's game against the Rockies after being hit on the right knee by a line-drive off the bat of Garrett Atkins.

Atkins, leading off the fourth, ripped a liner back up the middle that deflected off Kendrick's knee and straight up in the air. Atkins reached safely on the hit, while Kendrick crumbled to the field in pain. After a few minutes he was able to walk off the field with assistance from team trainers.

X-Rays taken on Kendrick's knee during the game were negative, and he is listed as day-to-day with a right lateral knee contusion.

Kendrick allowed seven hits and four runs in three-plus innings on Wednesday, taking the loss in Colorado's 12-0 pounding of the Phillies.

The 23-year-old has been a rare bright spot for the Phillies pitching staff this year, stepping up from Double-A Reading mid-season and going 8-4 with a 4.02 earned run average.

The Phillies have seen every member of their pitching rotation spend time on the disabled list this season with the exception of Jamie Moyer, including season-ending injuries to Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber, as well as several members of their bullpen.

© 2007 The Sports Network