Utley Goes Deep in First Game Back
Published at(PHILADELPHIA) — Chase Utley sure knows how to make an entrance. After missing the first 76 games of the 2012 season with bad knees, the Philadelphia Phillies second baseman hit a home run during his first at bat back with the team.
“He swung the bat good tonight,” Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel said after the Phillies 11-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I’m sure he wanted to do good. I’m sure he wanted to show people he was healthy and he was ready to play.”
The 33-year-old Utley went 3 for 5 on the night. He is the first of what the Phillies hope is many star players to be healthy enough to play for the team.
Pitcher Roy Halladay has been out since May 29 with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle on the right side of his back. He has participated in a throwing program for the last 12 days and is said to be making progress.
The 2006 MVP Ryan Howard begins a rehab stint Thursday. He’s missed the entire season with a torn left Achilles tendon. If all goes well, he could be back with the big club in three weeks.
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