Thursday, May 12, 2011
Posted: 10:25 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
CLEARWATER, Fla.Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz both took positive steps in recovering from injuries on Thursday night.
But Roy Oswalt?
That might be another story.
While Utley homered and Ruiz caught five pain-free innings in the Clearwater Threshers 7-5 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals, Oswalt struggled to rev up his fastball in five so-so innings.
The righthander, recovering from a strained lower back, relied mostly on off-speed pitches because his fastball, in catcher Ruiz words, didnt have too much life.
MLB
Oswalt is penciled in to start for the Phillies on Tuesday in St. Louis. It is unclear whether he will make that start or whether the team will require another minor-league rehab start. Oswalt was not available to reporters after the game. He had showered and left the stadium by the time the clubhouse was opened to reporters.
In five innings of work, Oswalt allowed seven hits and three runs. He walked one and struck out five.
In the first couple of innings I didnt see too much life on his fastball, Ruiz said. I think in the last inning he had better location. He was throwing more off-speed stuff because he felt his fastball was not there. Hes usually 93-94. Today it was more like 89, 90.
Ruiz said Oswalt felt fine physically. In addition to missing time with a sore back, Oswalt missed a week with the Phillies while helping his family recover from a tornado in Mississippi.
He said he felt OK, Ruiz said. Hopefully he feels OK because we need him.
Oswalts quick exit from the ballpark could be interpreted as an indication of good health. If he was hurting, he may have needed to stay to get treatment in the trainers room.
A crowd of 2,677, large by Florida State League standards, showed up to see the Phillies three big leaguers play in a minor-league setting.
Ruiz had a single and felt good behind the plate.
No pain, he said.
He will travel to Atlanta on Friday morning and rejoin the Phillies, taking the place of Brian Schneider who has gone on the disabled list with a hamstring strain.
Utley struck out, walked and homered in three at-bats. He struck out in the first inning, drew an eight-pitch walk in the fourth and smacked a laser-beam, first-pitch homer toright in the fifth. Those at-bats came against righthander Joe Kelly, rated as St. Louis 10th best prospect by Baseball America.
Utley has not played this season because of right knee tendinitis.
I felt pretty good, he said after his five-inning stint. I was able to see some pitches. I slid once. I attempted to turn a double play and avoid a runner, which was good. So far, so good.
Everything is a test at this point. I just have to go out there and play like I have before and see how it goes. So far its gone well.
Utley did not field any ground balls. He showed agility on a poor feed from third on an attempted double-play ball.
Utley plans to play again Friday as long as everything feels good.
How close is he to big-league ready?
I still think theres a little bit more time, he said. I have to work my way back into that. I have to be able to play nine innings before I get up to the big leagues. Well take it step by step and hopefully everything will be good.
Utley was asked if felt any pain.
So far, so good, he said. Dont jinx it.
There is no official timetable for Utley, though barring any setback it seems likely that he could be back sometime during the coming homestand that begins on Wednesday and runs through May 26.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
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