Phillies Notes: Utley's bat comes alive in Phillies loss

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley has been hitting the ball harder recently, and he finally got some results to show for it during Friday's 3-0 exhibition loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.

Utley, who had just one extra base hit in Grapefruit League action, crushed two doubles and a single in his three at-bats.

Utley's double in his first at-bat just missed going over the rightfield wall.

Utley lined a fourth-inning single and drilled a double near the 398-foot sign in centerfield in the seventh.

Utley couldn't help the Phillies avoid a third straight shutout. They last scored a run in the ninth inning of Tuesday's 6-0 win over the New York Yankees.

Kyle Kendrick prepared for the regular season with five shutout innings in his final exhibition appearance. He allowed three hits, walking two and striking out two.

The righthander will start the Phillies third game of the season on April 2 in Texas. He threw 63 pitches, 41 for strikes, lowering his spring ERA to 2.81.

"I wanted to finish good this spring and kind of get a good rhythm going and good tempo about everything, and I was able to do that," Kendrick said, "and I am looking forward to some real games and getting the season underway."

The Phillies acquired infielder Jayson Nix from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. They also optioned pitcher Phillippe Aumont to Lehigh Valley and informed infielder Reid Brignac that he has not made the team.

It's been a difficult spring for Phillies leftfielder Domonic Brown. He hit .196 in Grapefruit League action and had a long bout with the flu.

He missed a weeks' action, returned last Saturday, but then was replaced in the fourth inning of Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Brown was given off the Phillies final Grapefruit League game on Thursday, a 3-0 loss to Toronto.

Now, Brown is feeling fine, he said, but he was surprised that the flu symptoms lingered so long.

"I rested the last few days and got it out of my system," Brown said before the game.

In the fourth inning, Brown threw out Russell Martin by about a mile at home on a single to left by Travis Ishikawa.

Phillies minor leaguers available for the two-game On-Deck series with the Pirates are: shortstop Andres Blanco; third baseman Maikel Franco; lefthanders Cesar Jimenez and Jay Johnson; and outfielder Clete Thomas.

Blanco, a slick fielder, who has played in 235 major league games, was sidelined last season following right shoulder surgery. He remains a candidate as a Phillies backup shortstop.

The Phillies placed six players on the disabled list.

Retoactive to March 21 is infielder Freddy Galvis, recovering from MRSA; lefthander Cole Hamels (left biceps tendinitis); righthander Miguel Aldredo Gonzalez (right shoulder tendinitis); righthander Ethan Martin (shoulder); and outfielder-first baseman Darin Ruf (left oblique strain).

Righthander Mike Adams, recovering from right shoulder surgery, was placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 26, when he threw one scoreless inning against the Yankees.