The Phillies shortstop said he still was feeling discomfort in his sprained left ankle, which kept him out of the starting lineup last night for the sixth consecutive game. It remained unclear when he could return to the lineup.

"It's not moving to my left," Rollins said. "It's changing directions after I've gone left. That's where it's sore."

Can it linger much longer?

"Not the way it's progressing," he said.

But Rollins, other than making predictions about the 2007 race in the National League East, is no Nostradamus, so he wasn't sure whether he could return to the lineup for tonight's game against the Houston Astros or later this week against the New York Mets.

"We'll try again tomorrow," manager Charlie Manuel said.

Manuel, however, said Rollins remained eligible to pinch-hit, which indicated that the Phillies didn't think this could end up in a trip to the 15-day disabled list.

"I thought we were going to get him back," Manuel said. "But at the same time, I definitely don't want to put him out there when he's hurt and feeling pain and things like that. If it's bothering him [in batting practice], in a game with the adrenaline - he's going hard - that might not be too good. We don't want to have a setback."

Leading off . . .

Centerfielder Jayson Werth batted in the leadoff spot last night, the 10th time in his career he had done so. Catcher Carlos Ruiz hit second for the first time in his big-league career. Ruiz had never hit higher than sixth until last night.

Robinson tribute

Guests included the four remaining players from the Philadelphia Stars of the Negro leagues: catchers Bill Cash and Stanley Glenn, pitcher Harold Gould, and second baseman Mahlon Duckett.

Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts spoke before the ceremony about Robinson's impact on the game when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

"For him to do what he did was a remarkable thing," Roberts said. "He should be honored every year. He really changed not only the ball game, but a lot of things off the field."

Bourn to play

Bourn was the key part of the trade for the Astros.

"I was surprised I got traded," he said. "It was an awkward moment. It was nighttime. I was playing a video game. I wasn't expecting a call."

Bourn hit .277 with a home run, six RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 19 attempts in limited action last year with the Phils. But as soon as he joined the Astros, he became their everyday centerfielder.

He couldn't argue against that.

Bourn entered last night's series opener against the Phillies hitting .213 (10 for 47), with a homer, three RBIs, and six stolen bases in six attempts to lead the National League. He also has walked six times.

"It'll take me time to learn how to get comfortable playing every day," Bourn said. "But I like it."

Extra bases

- Todd Zolecki