Ryan Howard Ends Phillies' Season With Injury
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies' first baseman, injured his achilles tendon on Friday in a loss against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The game was the deciding factor for the winner of the National League Division series and took place in Philadelphia. When Howard stepped up for his final at-bat, he suffered the injury after trying to run out a ground ball.
Howard, 31, collapsed outside of the batter’s box, giving the Cardinals’ Nick Punto an opportunity to take him out of the game at first base. Howard described the painful feeling that took him down and ended the season for his team.
"I was trying to run and I just felt this pop, and the whole thing went numb like it was on fire," Howard told MLB.com. "I tried to keep going and went down. It literally felt like I was on a flat tire. I tried to get up, [but I] just couldn't go."
"It might've been one of those freak things," he told MLB. "[I] didn't have any pain. I think it was flexed trying to come out of the box. It felt like the bat hit it."
For the second time in two years, Howard ended the Phillies’ season. Last year he struck out in the NL Championship Series as the last up to bat. Phillies fans expressed disappointment for the second straight year in which Howard ended their season.
"Why did we sign Ryan Howard,” one Twitter user wrote. “He needs to be traded."
Another felt bad for the baseball star.
"You've gotta feel bad for Ryan Howard,” another person tweeted. “He got hurt while trying to run towards 1st base on the final out of last night's game."
However, Howard seemed to be feeling worst about the season ending loss than his injury.
"It sucks. It sucks," he said. "Being in this situation, having it come down and making the last out and having it happen the way that it happened, it sucks. You don't want to be a part of that. We came up short. The only thing we can do is try to focus on next year and, for me, try to get healthy."
