ST. LOUIS -- Two innings after taking a 95-mph pitch to the rib cage during Tuesday's 8-7 win over the Cubs at Busch Stadium, Cardinals outfielder Tommy Pham had to be replaced by a pinch-hitter due to lingering discomfort. He was diagnosed with a left side contusion, but the Cardinals are optimistic that their two-hole hitter will be ready to return on Wednesday.
Cubs reliever Felix Pena drilled Pham with a 1-0 fastball in the sixth inning and drew an icy stare from the outfielder as he walked slowly to first base. Pham was later picked off to end the frame, and remained in the game until his spot in the batting order came around with two on and one out in the eighth.
Stephen Piscotty took the at-bat in Pham's place and flied out.

"I thought that he was hit by the pitch in the elbow, but it got part of the oblique also," manager Mike Matheny explained afterward. "When he came in and told me it was an oblique, I was very concerned. There was a bruise there from where the ball had hit. He had a spasm in that spot."
Pham declined to offer additional details, stating only that he had "nothing to say" before leaving the clubhouse.

Before his eighth-inning exit, Pham helped the Cardinals build an early lead with a two-run homer off Cubs starter Jacob Arrieta in the second. It was Pham's 23rd home run of the season, one shy of team leader Paul DeJong.