Phillies Notes | Manuel is forced to play a game of reliever roulette

CLEVELAND - Still surprised that Phillies manager

Charlie Manuel

used

Jose Mesa

in a crucial situation in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 9-6 win over the Cleveland Indians?

Don't be.

Manuel has had to mix and match 14 relief pitchers at different times this season. Just two pitchers have been in the bullpen since the start: Geoff Geary and Antonio Alfonseca. Brett Myers, Tom Gordon, Ryan Madson and Francisco Rosario have spent time on the disabled list. There is Clay Condrey, who was designated for assignment once and outrighted once. There are Yoel Hernandez, Mike Zagurski, Matt Smith, Fabio Castro, Brian Sanches and Joe Bisenius, who have either been called up from the minors or optioned to the minors.

The Phils also signed Mesa on June 8 after the Detroit Tigers released him. He has a 3.86 ERA in four appearances so far.

Myers (strained right shoulder) and Gordon (strained right rotator cuff) are throwing bullpen sessions. Gordon is a little ahead of Myers, but it is unlikely that either will rejoin the team before July 1. In the meantime, don't be surprised to see Mesa in more tight spots.

"I think the more work he gets, the better he will be," Manuel said.

Looking ahead. Not to say the Phillies should pound St. Louis this weekend at Busch Stadium, but the Cardinals' three starters for the series (Anthony Reyes, Adam Wainwright and Kip Wells) are a combined 7-25 with a 5.91 ERA.

Wells, however, is a Phillies killer. The righthander will start Sunday's game. Wells (2-11, 6.93 ERA) is 5-0 with a 1.26 ERA in five career starts against the Phils.

Extra bases. Righthander Carlos Carrasco, the organization's top prospect, has been promoted to double A and will start tonight for Reading against Binghamton. He went 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 starts for single-A Clearwater. . . . Righthander Zack Segovia, who started for the Phillies on April 8, has been sent from triple-A Ottawa to Reading. He went 1-9 with a 6.09 ERA in 13 starts for Ottawa. . . . Former Phillies righthander Roberto Hernandez allowed three hits and three runs in the ninth inning in Tuesday's 9-6 loss to the Phillies. The Indians designated Hernandez for assignment yesterday. He had a 6.23 ERA.