Major League Baseball

Phillies' Roy Oswalt hit by line drive

Published Mar. 23, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Philadelphia Phillies suffered another injury scare Wednesday when veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt was struck in the neck by a line drive during a spring training game against the Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Oswalt was hit in the back of the neck below his right ear by a liner off the bat of Manny Ramirez during the fourth inning of the Phillies' 4-1 loss to Tampa, Philly.com reported.

The team announced he had a neck contusion behind his right ear. An X-ray and a CT scan both came back negative, much to the Phillies' relief.

The 33-year-old veteran hurler attempted to turn his body out of harms way but the ball got to the mound too quickly. Oswalt, who immediately fell to the ground after being struck, never lost consciousness. He remained down for just a few minutes before getting up under his own power.

The Phillies will have been desperate to avoid another massive injury blow. The reigning four-time NL East champions are already dealing with injuries to All-Stars Chase Utley (patellar tendinitis), Placido Polanco (elbow) and Brad Lidge (biceps tendinitis). Phillies' top prospect Dominic Brown, who the Phillies hoped would be the replacement for Jayson Werth, has also been sidelined after fracturing his right hand.

Oswalt, who is entering his second season in Philadelphia, is a critical piece of the club's stellar pitching rotation. He joins Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in a rotation regarded as the best in baseball.

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