Oswalt struggles in exhibition win at Bank

In his first appearance since suffering a bruised neck from a line drive hit by Manny Ramirez, Roy Oswalt said he felt just fine.

It was his performance he wasn't too thrilled about.

Struggling with command of his pitches, the righthander allowed five runs and five hits while walking four Tuesday night before he was removed in the fifth inning of the Phillies' 8-5 exhibition victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.

"I was a little wild," he said. "I made some quality pitches to some hitters and was a little erratic with others. Coming to 30-degree weather, the ball felt a little cue-ballish."

Oswalt threw 89 pitches, 51 for strikes. He is scheduled to make his first start of the 2011 season Sunday against Houston, where he pitched for 91/2 seasons before the Phillies acquired him on July 29. It will be his first start against his former team.

The 33-year-old Oswalt was asked if he's ready to begin the season. "I better be," he said.

As for his neck, Oswalt said it was a little stiff when he began warming up in the bullpen. "But I felt better as I went along."

After losing his Phillies debut last season, Oswalt went 7-0 in his next 10 starts, all wins.

Charlie Manuel sees a slimmer, cheerful Luis Castillo, but those are far from the only reasons that the Phillies manager feels the former Mets second baseman has a very good chance to be on the 25-man roster when the season opens Friday.

Castillo didn't hurt his chances in Tuesday's exhibition game against Pittsburgh. Batting second, the 35-year-old Castillo had two singles, an RBI, and a stolen base.

With Chase Utley injured, Castillo is on a tryout after being released by the Mets.

"I know he's in better shape than he was last year," Manuel said before the game. "He's still got good hands, quick hands around the bag. We're still watching him."

Manuel had high praise for infielder Michael Martinez, who is working to earn one of the final two roster spots. Manuel thinks the 28-year-old Martinez, a career minor-leaguer, could be a late bloomer.

"He's impressed me. He makes some plays defensively that are top-notch," Manuel said. "He's got talent and he's got energy. He can hit .250 or .260. Omar Vizquel, later on in his career - when he got around 28, 30 years old - is when he developed his hitting. This kid has got some tools."

The 5-foot-9, 145-pound Martinez is a career .263 hitter in the minors. He has impressed Manuel with his defense in both the infield and outfield.

Placido Polanco was held out of Tuesday's game as a precaution, but Manuel said the third baseman was likely to get a couple of at-bats in Wednesday's exhibition game. "I just want to make sure he's all right," Manuel said.

Polanco had been bothered by an injury to his left elbow, but he's said it's not related to the surgery he had during the offseason.

"We're just taking it easy on him. He feels great," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

Amaro said there was not much new on Chase Utley. "He's progressing in baby steps," he said. . . . First baseman Matt Rizzotti cleared waivers and was outrighted to the minors, which removed him from the 40-man roster. . . . Cole Hamels will start Wednesday and Joe Blanton will pitch a few innings out of the bullpen in the final exhibition game.