Utley could rejoin Phillies soon

READING - Phillies second baseman Chase Utley went 0 for 5 Thursday on the second day of his rehabilitation assignment at double-A Reading, but he allowed for the possibility that he would be activated Friday for the weekend series with the New York Mets.

He played the entire game in a 5-2 loss to the Portland Sea Dogs at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Utley, who had been on the disabled list since May 23 with a strained right oblique muscle, swung freely and hit the ball hard in his final two times up, lining to left field in the seventh inning and flying out to deep right to end the game. He also made a leaping grab of a line drive for his best defensive play.

"I felt good," Utley said. "The last couple of at-bats, I felt I hit the ball on the barrel."

Utley said he would talk to manager Charlie Manuel and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. about his next move.

When asked whether there was a chance he would be activated Friday, Utley said, "I think it's a possibility, but I have to talk to those guys and see what we all want to do."