PHILADELPHIA – This wasn't the news All-Star catcher Mike Lieberthal or the Philadelphia Phillies wanted to hear.

	Arizona's Mark Grace checks on Mike Lieberthal after he was picked off first and fell to the ground with a season-ending knee injury.

Lieberthal will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Lieberthal, who hurt his knee when he was picked off first base by Arizona's Brian Anderson in the second inning of Saturday night's game, also tore the medial collateral ligament and lateral meniscus.

Team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti said he recommended reconstructive knee surgery after Lieberthal had an MRI on Monday. Lieberthal, who has decided to have the surgery, would be sidelined for six-to-eight months.

"He was very appropriately upset about the whole thing," Ciccotti said.

Lieberthal had the option to wait and test the knee in four to six weeks. After one month of rehabilitation for the torn MCL, Lieberthal will have surgery to repair the ACL and lateral meniscus. He has not decided who will perform the surgery.

Lieberthal, an All-Star last season, was batting .231 with two homers and 11 RBI. He had 15 homers and 71 RBI in 108 games last year. His best season was 1999 when he batted .300 with 31 homers and 96 RBI.

Johnny Estrada, who was hitting .290 at Triple-A Scranton with 16 RBI and only six strikeouts in 131 at bats, will replace Lieberthal as Philadelphia's everyday catcher. Estrada was 1-for-3 with his first RBI in the Phillies' 6-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

Gary Bennett will remain the backup, but should get more playing time.

Lieberthal's loss is a major blow to the Phillies, who are leading the NL East at 22-14. The team has struggled without Lieberthal in recent history.

The Phillies were 51-48 when Lieberthal went on the disabled list with a pelvic injury in 1998. They went 24-39 the rest of the season. Last year, they were 13-27 during his two stints on the disabled list.

"Replacing an All-Star catcher won't be easy," general manager Ed Wade said in a statement released by the team. "Getting Lieby healthy for next year is our utmost goal. We certainly feel for him. He's a gamer."