Football
Associated Press 16y

NL MVP Jimmy Rollins out of Phillies' starting lineup for 3rd consecutive game

PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins was missing from the Philadelphia Phillies' starting lineup for the third straight game Friday night because of a sprained left ankle.

The 2007 NL MVP injured his ankle on Tuesday during a win over the New York Mets. He struck out as a pinch hitter against Billy Wagner leading off the ninth in an extra-inning loss Thursday.

Eric Bruntlett replaced Rollins for the third straight game. Bruntlett committed two of the team's four errors -- both in a six-run third inning -- in a loss Wednesday. He failed to execute a sacrifice bunt in a crucial spot in the 11th on Thursday. After batting in the No. 2 spot the first two games he started, Bruntlett was dropped to eighth in the order for the series opener against the Chicago Cubs.

Rollins played in 230 consecutive games before Wednesday, a streak that began in the second game of a doubleheader on July 30, 2006.

He left Tuesday's game in the eighth inning after tweaking his ankle while scrambling back to second base on a pickoff play.

Rollins played in all 162 regular-season games last season, leading Philadelphia to the NL East title and its first playoff berth since 1993. He batted .296 with 30 homers, 94 RBIs, 20 triples, 41 stolen bases and an NL-high 139 runs.

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