PITTSBURGH - Charlie Manuel had to get a little creative when he put together his lineup for last night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

He sat slumping Ryan Howard for the second consecutive game, so he needed a first baseman. But because the Pirates had lefthander Zach Duke on the mound, Manuel wanted to put an extra righthander in the lineup, which meant Greg Dobbs would start the game on the bench.

So who?

He chose rookie Brad Harman, who hit eighth and played second base. That meant Chase Utley moved from second to first. Utley played first base for the first time since Sept. 9 against the Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, and for the 25th time in his career.

"It's a little bit of an adjustment," Utley said. "You have a different glove on your hand. I've played there before, so it will be fine."

Utley actually needed to find a glove because he doesn't have his own first baseman's mitt.

He walked onto the field for batting practice with Manuel's first baseman's glove in hand. Then he spotted pitching coach Rich Dubee's first baseman's mitt in the dugout.

"Does the ball stay in there?" Utley asked Dubee.

"Yeah," he said.

"I'll try both of them," Utley said. "Thanks, coaches."

From afar, it looked like he chose Dubee's.

Because of the lineup shuffle, Harman got his first big-league start and his first big-league hit, a double to left-center field that scored a run in the fourth inning to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead.

"I'm just happy to get in there, and I'm excited to play tonight," he said.

Not to be outdone, righthander Chad Durbin got his first big-league hit in the sixth inning with a bloop single to right field.

But Harman also had no illusions that this would be another Wally Pipp moment, either. Utley is one of the best hitters in baseball, and he isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"I've heard that story," Harman said. "I don't know if that's going to happen here. I'm just going to go out and have some fun and play hard."

Manuel hit Chris Coste fifth behind Pat Burrell, the first time in Coste's big-league career that he has hit higher than sixth.

Coste hadn't started since Sunday because of illness.

"Ever since he's come to the big leagues, he's hit lefties good," Manuel said. "With the way our lineup is, I like hitting him fifth behind Burrell, because I know he's going to make contact and put the ball in play."

Coste hit a two-run double to left-center in the first inning to hand the Phils a 2-0 lead.

Howard is working

Howard took extra hitting with his teammates hours before last night's game. He concentrated on stroking the ball to left-center field, which pleased Manuel.

Howard, who is batting .174 with four home runs, nine RBIs and 35 strikeouts in 86 at-bats, is expected to be in the lineup tonight against Pirates righthander Matt Morris, but Manuel wouldn't fully commit to it.

Howard pinch-hit for Tom Gordon in the eighth inning and struck out. He remained in the game at first base. He went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in the two games Manuel kept him out of the starting lineup.

Jimmy rolling

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who is on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle, has been taking batting and fielding practice in Clearwater, Fla. He came out of Wednesday's BP session fine.

He is eligible to be activated May 5 in Arizona, although there is no timetable for his return.

Victorino playing

Centerfielder Shane Victorino, who is on the DL with a strained right calf, continued his rehab assignment in double-A Reading. Victorino went 2 for 5 with two walks and an RBI in single-A Clearwater. The Phillies are expected to activate him before Tuesday's game against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park.

- Todd Zolecki