The second baseman will have an MRI exam on his hand Tuesday in Cincinnati, according to Scott Proefrock, the Phillies' assistant general manager. That will determine the severity of the injury.
But Utley, who has played through his share of injuries, may have provided enough context as to how serious this injury could be when he did not bat in the ninth.
Utley, whom Phillies ace Roy Halladay just days ago dubbed "the driving force behind this team," could only gut it out for four innings.
That's more than enough to quiet a clubhouse.
"Like Shane said, he's one of the last guys who is going to take himself out unless there is something really bothering him," first baseman Ryan Howard said. "I hope it's not serious."
Utley declined to comment through a Phillies spokesman, saying he wanted to wait until he knew more about the injury to speak.
The injury overshadowed what was an uninspiring performance all around by the Phillies at Great American Ball Park.
Kyle Kendrick retired the first nine Reds batters on just 35 pitches and it looked as if the Phillies' fifth starter could cruise against first-place Cincinnati.
That good rhythm ended when Kendrick faced the Reds' lineup for the second time.
In the fourth inning, Cincinnati mashed three straight hard-hit balls and scored twice on former Phillie Scott Rolen's 300th career home run that hit off the left-field foul pole.
Kendrick's promising night came to a halt.
In 61/3 innings, he allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits. Kendrick has a 6.04 ERA in his last four starts. With lefthander J.A. Happ possibly nearing the end of his rehab assignment for a strained left elbow, has Kendrick made his last start?
