Phillies Notebook: Polanco, Victorino, Oswalt show no signs of prior injuries

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The bad news that closer Brad Lidge won't be ready to open the season because of increased pain behind his shoulder was offset at least a little by upbeat reports on a trio of other Phillies who have been dinged recently.

Third baseman Placido Polanco returned to the lineup and got a pair of at-bats. He had been sidelined by a hyperextended elbow.

Centerfielder Shane Victorino, who suffered multiple facial contusions when he collided with leftfielder Raul Ibanez during Monday's game, started and played for the first time since.

And righthander Roy Oswalt, who was hit below the left ear by a line drive from Tampa Bay's Manny Ramirez on Wednesday in Port Charlotte, played catch in the outfield without incident.

Polanco said he still isn't fully recovered but expects to be by the time the season opens Friday against the Houston Astros at Citizens Bank Park.

"It's a little sore," he said. "I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent yet but, hopefully, I will be by Opening Day. My first at-bat, when I swung, I felt something weird."

He'll rest today and is scheduled to play tomorrow against the Braves at Lake Buena Vista.

Luis Castillo made his third straight start yesterday and had, by far, his best game since being signed by the Phillies to a minor league contract after being released by the Mets. He walked twice and got his first hit, a single, leading off the seventh inning.

The Phillies are expected to decide before the season whether to keep Castillo.

The Phillies improved their Grapefruit League record to 18-11 with a 3-1 win over the Braves at Bright House Field. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, batting third, hammered a two-run homer off Atlanta starter Rodrigo Lopez in the first and also singled. The Phillies managed only seven hits but won with the help of Joe Blanton's best start of the spring. He pitched six shutout innings, gave up five hits, struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

"Mechanically, I felt pretty solid," he said. "It was a good time for it to click in. I'll try to remember what I did for next time. I could tell a big difference between this outing and the last."

The Phillies have split squads today, one team going to Lakeland to play the Tigers, the other remaining in Clearwater to face the Blue Jays. Lefthander Ryan Feierabend will get his first start on the road, facing Detroit ace Justin Verlander. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick will pitch against Toronto's Kyle Drabek at Bright House Field.

Roy Halladay will make his final spring start against the Braves tomorrow. In the Grapefruit League finale Monday, Houston's Bud Norris will face Phillies nonroster righthander Nate Bump.

The Phillies have exhibitions against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday and Wednesday. *