PHOENIX - Jimmy Rollins is back. Well, almost.

Rollins flew to San Francisco yesterday and will join the Phillies today at AT&T Park, where they open a three-game series against the Giants tonight. Rollins, who has been on the disabled list since April 20 with a sprained left ankle, played three games this week on a rehab assignment in Clearwater, Fla.

Rollins was believed likely to be activated before tonight's game, but the Phillies stressed there was no guarantee. They planned to have athletic trainer Scott Sheridan run Rollins through a series of drills to test the ankle.

If the Phils deem the ankle OK, they will activate him. If not, they won't.

"When Jimmy is ready, Jimmy will go play shortstop," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's the MVP. He helps us."

Rollins sprained his ankle on April 8 against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

Too much respect

Manuel thought the Phillies offered Diamondbacks righthander Brandon Webb a little too much respect yesterday.

He pitched a complete game in an 8-3 victory, allowing just one run and three hits through eight innings. Webb, 8-0, is the first pitcher to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland did it in 2005 with the Chicago White Sox. Webb is the first National League pitcher to accomplish the feat since Pedro Martinez did it in 1997 with the Montreal Expos.

"I can't explain it to you because I don't want to take anything away from [Webb], because he's that good," Manuel said. "But at the same time, we should want to really take it to him. He's that kind of competitor, so why shouldn't we want to get some of that?"

"I can't speak for everyone else," but "I'm just trying to go up there and put good at-bats together," said Greg Dobbs, who was 0 for 3. "You have to respect everybody at this level, no matter if it's Brandon Webb or Chien-Ming Wang or whoever you're facing."

The Wednesday flashback

For those fans that couldn't stay up late Wednesday, the Phillies had their 11th comeback of the season in a 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Shane Victorino started a two-run rally in the eighth inning when he reached safely on a strikeout and passed ball. He also survived an accidental clothesline from first baseman Conor Jackson, who tried to catch the throw from catcher Chris Snyder as Victorino reached first base. Eric Bruntlett followed with a double to score Victorino and tie the game, and Chase Utley followed with a single to score Bruntlett and give the Phillies a 5-4 lead.

"All I know is that I was on my back," Victorino said. "That's all I remember. It didn't feel good at the time, but now I feel good. It left a mark, I'm sure, on one of us. I hope he's not too seriously hurt."

J.C. Romero (0.63 ERA in 17 appearances), Tom Gordon (1.29 ERA since opening day), and Brad Lidge (0.00 ERA in 16 appearances) combined for 22/3 scoreless innings.

Jackson wasn't in the starting lineup yesterday, but was available to pinch-hit.

Adding inventory

The Phillies acquired lefthander Stephen Randolph from the Houston Astros for a player to be named.

Randolph will report to triple-A Lehigh Valley as the Phillies continue to shuffle minor-league rosters, especially that of the lowly IronPigs. The Phillies have said they would like to have another lefthander in their bullpen. Randolph has big-league experience should the need arise.

Randolph is 10-7 with a 5.52 ERA in parts of three seasons with Houston and Arizona. But in 11 appearances this season for triple-A Round Rock, Randolph was 0-1 with a 1.23 ERA. In 142/3 innings, he allowed eight hits and struck out 21. He also yielded 11 walks.

Extra bases

Leftfielder Pat Burrell wasn't in the starting lineup yesterday. So Taguchi played left instead. Burrell had started every previous game, leaving Utley as the only Phillie to start every game this season (34 games at second base and two at first). . . . Since 2002, the Phillies have the third-best record in the National League. They are 454-392 (.537) in those five-plus seasons. Only the St. Louis Cardinals (473-372) and Atlanta Braves (468-371) have been better.

- Todd Zolecki