Phillies Notebook: Lidge's return will force Phillies to make roster move

SAN FRANCISCO - After striking out four batters in two scoreless innings at Double A Reading on Tuesday, Brad Lidge declared himself ready to report for duty. And it sounds like the Phillies agree.

Although manager Charlie Manuel stopped short of saying that Lidge would be his closer against the New York Mets tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park, he is poised to rejoin the team at some point this weekend after rehabbing from elbow and knee surgeries.

"He's close," Manuel said when asked if he expected Lidge to return this weekend, "and probably we'll have him back sometime, yes."

If the Phillies activate Lidge before tomorrow's game, they likely will have to part with one of their seven current relievers, a tough decision given the candidates. Nelson Figueroa, who has pitched well in a variety of situations, would have to be placed on waivers before going to the minors, meaning the Phillies would risk losing him. David Herndon, as a Rule 5 pick, would have to be offered back to the Los Angeles Angels if he is removed from the active roster, although the Phillies could also work out a trade for his rights.

Figueroa allowed one run in the 11th inning yesterday, but closed out the Phillies' 7-6 win for the first save of his career. Herndon, meanwhile, pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Danys Baez, Chad Durbin, Jose Contreras and J.C. Romero are expected to play pivotal roles throughout the season.

Which leaves 24-year-old lefthander Antonio Bastardo as the pitcher who offers the most short-term flexibility, since he can be optioned back to the minors. Bastardo has allowed one run, three hits and four walks and struck out five in 5 1/3 innings this season. But he has pitched in just two games since April 15, and is now joined in the bullpen by veteran lefty Romero, who returned from the disabled list last week.

The Phillies could choose to wait to activate Lidge, but they are clearly in need of his services. Ryan Madson has four saves this season, but allowed a game-tying run in the 10th inning yesterday for his second blown save of the year and his sixth in 20 save opportunities as a closer since the start of 2009.

"We can always use Lidge back," Manuel said.

Will he return to closing right away?

"I'll just see where we're at on that," Manuel said. "I'll just play it by feel. I'll talk to him and things like that first and see where he's at and how he feels."

Cole Hamels isn't there yet. But despite a three-run sixth inning that left the Phillies trailing the Giants, 4-1, he continued to show plenty of signs of returning to his old form. Using an aggressive 91-92 mph fastball and mixing in his vaunted changeup, Hamels struck out 10 batters in his six innings of work. He also gave up nine hits and four walks.

The Phillies hope the positive signs start translating into success soon. For the fourth time in five starts, Hamels ran up a big pitch count early in the game and was unable to make it past the sixth. He finished with 113 pitches, more than opposing starter Tim Lincecum accumulated in 8 1/3 innings of work.

"It's pitching deeper," said Hamels, who is 2-2 with a 5.28 ERA. "I'm not going to take away anything negative from the way I attacked the strike zone, because I felt like I did that really well. I was able to really go after them. Sometimes it didn't show it, but I felt like I was able to do what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, the line doesn't [reflect it], but after this game I feel really pleased with what I was able to accomplish and I look forward to my next start."

Ryan Howard's home run off Tim Lincecum in the fifth inning snapped a career-long drought of 65 at-bats without a homer . . . Chase Utley tallied the 1,000th hit of his career, becoming the 32nd player in club history to reach the plateau.