PHILADELPHIA — When he finally emerged from the postgame showers, Shane Victorino(notes) acted like he was surprised to see a media crowd gathered around his locker. 

"Two thumbs up, everyone," the Phillies center fielder said while lifting a Philadelphia UFC shirt over his head. "That's all you need to know. No broke, no fracture."  

That, of course, was the diagnosis everyone had been waiting to hear from the Phillie himself, even though he kept insisting it was not much of a story. 

But the truth is that anyone who watched the Phillies' 8-6 victory over the Yankees in Monday night's Game 5 knew that the status of Victorino's right index finger — as well as the perseverance of the player attached to it — would be a hot topic.

Victorino was hit square on the digit by A.J. Burnett(notes) in the first inning and fell to the ground in considerable pain. He stayed in the game, though, and came around to score on Chase Utley's(notes) three-run home run (above), which occurred on the next pitch from Burnett. Victorino clearly favored the finger over the next few innings, shaking it vigorously before catching an Alex Rodriguez(notes) fly ball to center and then ducking into the clubhouse for X-rays during the Phillies' extended at-bat during the third inning. 

"It got stiffer as the game went on, but throwing was fine," Victorino said after an 0-for-3 night that ended when he was lifted for Ben Francisco(notes) in the eighth. "Hitting was a little different, a little tough. I couldn't find my grip.

"That's no excuse for me stinking it up at the plate, but everything's fine."

Victorino kept his right hand in his pocket for most of the postgame interview, but briefly revealed the finger's swelling when asked by reporters. He said the off day on Tuesday should give it time to heal and that he should be good to go for Wednesday's Game 6.

In a strange coincidence, it was Burnett who shattered Jayson Werth's wrist in spring training a few years back. Also, any thoughts that the HBP was a revenge measure for all the A-Rod peltings this season should have expired after considering that Jimmy Rollins(notes) had just led off the inning with a single and Burnett was pitching with an early 1-0 lead.

"A.J. looked at me when I got to first base and said 'my bad.' " Victorino said. "It was no retaliation, I'll tell you that much."  

Related: Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, A.J. Burnett, Álex Rodríguez, 2009 postseason on the Stew, 2009 World Series on the Stew