Phillies Notebook: With Romero on DL, Phillies looking to Bastardo for relief

Now, perhaps more than ever, is Antonio Bastardo's time.

Time to show he can be the top lefthanded relief option for a World Series contender. Time to show he can handle the day-to-day grind of life in a major league bullpen. Time to show his big-time ability can flourish into big-time production.

The 25-year-old has never appeared in more than eight games in a month. He has pitched on less than 2 days of rest 12 times, on back-to-back days nine times.

But when the Phillies placed J.C. Romero on the disabled list yesterday with a mild right calf strain he suffered Monday, they effectively named Bastardo their top option to face lefthanded hitters in pivotal situations.

"He's starting to throw good enough, command his pitches good enough," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He deserves a chance to show what he can do."

Earning that chance has taken Bastardo a calendar year. He entered last season as the lone lefty in the bullpen as Romero recovered from offseason flexor tendon surgery and appeared in seven of the team's first 19 games. While he allowed one run and stranded both of the runners he inherited in 5 innings, he also struggled with his command, throwing only 56 percent of his pitches for strikes and walking four batters with five strikeouts.

After Romero returned from the disabled list, the Phillies optioned Bastardo back to the minors. He made a quick return when righthander Ryan Madson suffered a broken toe on his right foot, but was sent back down 4 days later to make room for righthander Joe Blanton's activation from the disabled list.

The Phillies recalled Bastardo in May, but he allowed six runs with eight strikeouts and five walks in nine appearances before the club shut him down with elbow inflammation.

This year, though, Bastardo has been nothing short of dominant. Against the Mets on April 6, he recorded five crucial outs after inheriting a bases-loaded situation in the fifth, keeping the Phillies in position for a 10-7 victory. Two days later, he tied a Phillies record by striking out six consecutive batters in two innings of work against the Braves.

In six appearances, Bastardo had yet to allow a run or an extra-base hit.

Bastardo won't be the only lefty in the bullpen during Romero's stay on the DL, which the veteran doesn't expect to last much longer than the requisite 15 days. The Phillies called up 28-year-old southpaw Mike Zagurski to fill their empty roster spot. Zagurski pitched to three batters in the seventh inning of last night's 9-0 loss to the Brewers. He had one strikeout, one walk and gave up a two-run single to Erick Almonte.

Zagurski appeared in 25 games as a rookie in 2007 but battled elbow and hamstring injuries the next two seasons, spent two brief stints with the Phillies in 2010.

Manuel said yesterday Zagurski's velocity and stuff were improved from a year ago.

"The reports on him were good," Manuel said.

Zagurski's promotion means hot relief prospect Mike Stutes, who had a strong spring training and continues to pitch well for Lehigh Valley, will have to wait until later.

In the meantime, all eyes will be on Bastardo.

Look for first baseman John Mayberry Jr., who made his first start last night, to be in the lineup again today against Brewers lefty Chris Narveson. The righthanded-hitting outfielder entered last night 4-for-9 with two strikeouts, a walk, an RBI and a run, all as a pinch-hitter. Last night, he was 0-for-2 with a walk . . . Outfielder Domonic Brown, working his way back from surgery on his right hand in early March, played in his second extended spring training game. He is expected to be optioned to Lehigh Valley once he fully recovers.

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at www.philly.com/HighCheese.