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Phillies Notes: Phillies' Hernandez is growing in starting role

ATLANTA - Chase Utley sat in a narrow hallway underneath Turner Field and clicked away at a computer mouse before Friday's game against the Braves.

ATLANTA - Chase Utley sat in a narrow hallway underneath Turner Field and clicked away at a computer mouse before Friday's game against the Braves.

The sidelined second baseman analyzed video loops of his swing, knowing it is uncertain when he will be able to try to put that practice into form. Interim manager Pete Mackanin said his "best guess" is that Utley will be sidelined a few more weeks before resuming baseball activity as he deals with inflammation in his right ankle.

Utley's void at second base has created room for Cesar Hernandez to blossom the last two weeks and show potential as an everyday player. Hernandez entered Friday with a major-league leading 20 hits since June 21. He is hitting .426 in that 11-game span. The 25-year-old started and batted second on Friday for the 12th straight game.

Mackanin said Hernandez has been "outstanding." Mackanin has noticed a growth in Hernandez's confidence, which has come from having a chance to play every day.

Hernandez started 38 percent of the team's games before Utley's injury. He played sparingly and his production dipped. Hernandez batted .232 as a part-time player. Being a part-time player, Mackanin said, is difficult.

"Hitting is timing. Fielding is timing," Mackanin said. "They don't have that confidence because they are concerned that they just want do a good job and not make mistakes. You can't play like that. The fact that he's playing every day, you can see it. He can't wait to get in there."

On Thursday, Hernandez struck out by bunting a pitch foul with two strikes. He had to get the bunt down, Mackanin said. The manager labeled it as a "young mistake" that the player needs to eliminate.

"Those types of things will come," Mackanin said. "We know he can field. We know he can run. Now he needs to polish it up."

Chances to polish his game will continue as Utley continues to be sidelined. It will be up to Hernandez to make it shine.

Williams on mend

Jerome Williams is with the team in Atlanta but will return to Philadelphia when the Phillies travel to the West Coast. Williams will make a rehab start in Reading and Lakewood, Mackanin said. The righthander has been sidelined since straining his left hamstring on June 16.

Extra bases

Odubel Herrera batted leadoff on Friday night. The rookie is batting .357 in 28 at-bats since June 16. He entered Friday batting .262, nearly a 15-point rise since the end of May. . . . Steve Carlton, Jim Bunning, and Pat Gillick will represent the Phillies at Hall of Fame weekend on July 24-27 at Cooperstown, N.Y.

- Matt Breen

Phillies Notes:

Cesar Hernandez has a major-league leading 21 hits since June 21. Notes, C5