Victorino, who opened the season as the Phillies' everyday centerfielder, had played center in the previous 23 games he had started this season. But Werth had started 15 games in center while Victorino spent time on the disabled list last month with a strained right calf.

The meaning of all this?

"I want Werth to play center field every now and then," Manuel said. "I said before that Werth will play some in center field. I said it in the winter. I said it in the spring. I said it right before Victorino came back [from the disabled list]. That way, we've got two guys. If you notice during the season, I usually give [Victorino] a rest. I give him a blow every now and then. And when I give him a rest, Werth will be the guy to go to center field."

Werth had not started in center since Victorino returned to the starting lineup May 1, and he misplayed a ball Brian McCann hit to center with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth to score a run. It was the first earned run closer Brad Lidge has allowed this season.

"I read in right off the bat," Werth said. "I was already taking steps in when I realized it clearly wasn't in. Definite miscue in a bad situation there."

Before the game Victorino said he was just glad to be in the starting lineup.

"I just want to go out there and play," Victorino said before the game.

"He's a great rightfielder," Manuel said.

Victorino had 10 assists from right field last season, so he knows his arm can be a big factor there. He has not thrown out a runner from center this season.

"Yeah, I totally miss it," Victorino said of throwing out runners. "I've played there before, so I'm not too worried about major adjustments moving to right. A fly ball is a fly ball. You've got to catch it."

Werth also is OK with the move.

"I'm more comfortable out there than before," he said. "But the more I do anything, the better I get at it."

Lefty, lefty, lefty

Manuel expressed concern that the Phillies have not hit lefthanders well. He is correct. His team entered last night hitting just .235 against them (and .257 against righthanders). Manuel said he needs his righthanders to step up.

One who really needs to start hitting lefthanders better is catcher Carlos Ruiz, who was hitting .190 against them. Ruiz hit just .189 against lefthanders last season and is at .202 against them in his career.

"I think lefthanders keep hard in on him, soft away, sink the ball and things like that," Manuel said. "He tries to pull the ball instead of hitting the ball more to right-center and right field. [Ruiz] is a gap-to-gap hitter, and when they sink the ball or throw him sliders or change-ups or things like that, he rolls over. He can also get better on his selection of pitches. If he's swinging at bad balls, that's one of the worst things you can do."

More tough tests

"They pitch Howard tough," Manuel said of lefthanders. "They keep the ball hard in on him. And then when they get ahead, they throw soft stuff away. They are real conscious of how they pitch him."

Extra bases

- Todd Zolecki