Edmundo Sosa doing ‘a lot better’ than expected after leaving win over Yankees early

NEW YORK — Phillies manager Rob Thomson thought Edmundo Sosa was doing “a lot better” than he expected after the infielder exited Saturday’s win over New York at Yankee Stadium early with a bruised back following a collision with left fielder Brandon Marsh.

Playing third base, Sosa drifted back for a popup hit by Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the bottom of the seventh inning in an eventual 9-4 Philadelphia victory. Marsh ran in for the ball and accidentally hit Sosa with his forearm. Sosa did call for the ball, but the outfielder didn’t hear it.

Marsh wasn’t sure if Sosa or shortstop Trea Turner would get there, so he went after it.

“The sun was obviously a factor a little bit in there,” Marsh said. “… I just didn’t hear him. And so that’s my fault. I should have definitely backed off a little bit. I just got to have better ears.”

Sosa caught the ball and fell to the ground, remaining on the turf for several minutes and grabbing his back in apparent pain. He eventually got to his feet and walked back to the visitors’ dugout with Marsh and a trainer by his side. Otto Kemp pinch hit for Sosa in the top of the eighth inning.

After the game, Sosa said his back felt “a little tight,” but much better than when it first happened.

“Maybe it was just that at the beginning, I was a little confused on what was really going on,” Sosa said through a team interpreter. “But feeling good and ready.”

The Phillies (60-44) exploded for nine runs to clinch a series victory over the Yankees on Saturday. Sosa, who appeared frustrated with some of his earlier at-bats in the game, and Bryce Harper hit home runs.

After Sosa struck out with a runner on third to end the top of the fifth, he slammed his helmet. He said Harper told him “that’s not you. That’s not how we do it here.” Sosa regretted the short outburst, but he was glad to get some redemption in the form of a two-run shot to center field in the seventh.

The energetic part-timer is now batting .270/.314/.419 with four homers in 56 games this season.

“Talking to him helped me calm down a little, get back to my head and just refocus on what we should be doing next,” Sosa said. “And sometimes this game is just beautiful like that, and it gives you another chance.”

Philadelphia is dealing with a different injury in the infield as regular third baseman Alec Bohm was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 19 with a fractured left rib. Sosa, who typically platoons with Bryson Stott at second base, has filled in at third along with Kemp.

With left-hander Carlos Rodón set to start for New York in Sunday’s series finale, Thomson mentioned on Saturday morning that he could trot out some extra right-handed hitters with Kemp at third, Sosa at second and Weston Wilson in left field. Sosa seemed to be confident that he’ll be able to play.