Phillies Notes: Ryan Howard hasn't found the power yet

Charlie Manuel grabbed a first baseman's mitt hours before first pitch Tuesday night and manned the position. Freddy Galvis and Kevin Frandsen wanted extra work on the infield. The 69-year-old Manuel helped.

"We needed somebody," the manager said.

What Manuel needs is the man usually at first base, Ryan Howard, to produce more. Howard, typically a slow starter, was off to his worst 18-game stretch entering Tuesday. It is early and the sample size is small, but Howard was trending downward.

Just 6.8 percent of his hits were for extra bases. His career average before 2013 was 11 percent. It has declined in each of the last two seasons.

Howard was hitting a respectable .275 but with a .297 on-base percentage and .377 slugging percentage. The .674 on-base-plus-slugging percentage was his lowest in any season's first 18 games. So was the one home run he had hit.

The lesson after a torrid spring, Manuel said, is that power strokes come and go.

"He'll get it," Manuel said. "It's coming. It's still there. He's going to get it."

The $125 million first baseman ranked 120th among qualified hitters in slugging percentage.

April is traditionally Howard's worst month; his career OPS is lowest then. Howard has never had a full month with fewer than three home runs.

Before the season started, Manuel vowed he would rest his aging infield more often. He did not write Chase Utley's name in his lineup Tuesday for the second time in nine games, and it was the best evidence yet of Manuel's prudence.

Freddy Galvis started at second base against the Pirates.

"Chase is fine," Manuel said. "It's going to be another five days before we have an off day in Cleveland. After that, there are about 13 more days before we have one. I want to make sure I can get him off his feet every now and then."

Extra bases. Outfielder Delmon Young will continue his rehab assignment with triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday in Indianapolis. . . . Carlos Ruiz started his minor-league stint Tuesday at single-A Clearwater. He will play there again Wednesday and then move to double-A Reading for games Friday and Saturday before being activated Sunday in New York.