Oswalt leaves Phillies be with family in Miss.

It was odd that Roy Oswalt allowed five runs in three innings in Tuesday’s start. It was also odd that the pitcher left the stadium before the game ended.

It was thought Oswalt had been suffering from a recurring back injury. But that’s not the case at all.

The Phillies announced yesterday that Oswalt had left the team for personal reasons. He’s gone home to Mississippi to be with his family.

“There has been a tremendous amount of tornado activity near Roy’s home in Mississippi resulting in several tragic deaths and significant devastation to the area,” GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. said in a statement. “Because of this, Roy is concerned about his family’s well-being. He has chosen to take time to make sure there wasn’t significant damage to his home, but more importantly, to make certain that his wife and children are okay.”

There is no timetable for Oswalt’s return, but the Phillies are hopeful that he’ll make his next, scheduled start.