Phillies Notebook: Consecutive starts for Phillies reserve Mayberry

Most major league managers try to find the right moment to give their bench players an occasional start, the better to keep them sharp and ready to contribute as the need arises.

The fact that Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel gave reserve outfielder John Mayberry Jr. consecutive starts Tuesday and yesterday against the Milwaukee Brewers might be simply a case of Manuel performing due diligence. Or it might be a signal that the lanky outfielder, son of former Kansas City Royals slugger John Mayberry, could be looking at an expanded role.

Now that rightfielder Jayson Werth has moved on to the Washington Nationals, the Phillies have been playing Raul Ibanez, a lefthander hitter, in leftfield and righthanded Ben Francisco in rightfield. But with Ibanez' batting average down to .219, Manuel started Mayberry in leftfield against Milwaukee southpaw Chris Narveson.

If Ibanez doesn't heat up soon, might a platoon situation with Mayberry be in the offing? Or could the kid wind up displacing Ibanez altogether?

"I'm trying to give him some playing time so I can see what he can do," Manuel said of Mayberry, who went 1-for-3 (a double) in yesterday's come-from-behind, 4-3 victory and is now hitting .333 (5-for-15) in limited duty.

Mayberry said it "felt good" to get consecutive starts and that he hoped to play his way into a more regular role.

"I'm just trying to get in the swing of things, get my timing down," he said. "I need to put together a string of good at-bats.

"Hopefully, I'll play well, continue to produce and contribute to the team however I can."

Call them the anti-vampires: the Phillies are 7-0 in day games this season, the only team still undefeated in the sunlight. In 2010, the Phils were 27-24 in day games, or as they're termed on weekdays at Citizens Bank Park, "Businesspersons' Specials" . . . Ryan Madson, the third of four Phillies pitchers, got the victory. It was the 37th of his career as a reliever, sixth-most in Phillies history, two shy of Jack Baldschun for fifth place . . . Yesterday's turnout of 45,743 not only was the 134th consecutive regular-season sellout at CBP, but the second-largest crowd there ever . . . Jose Contreras has converted all four of his save opportunities this season. He had held opponents hitless in their last 17 at-bats against him before Rickie Weeks' single in the ninth inning. *