Skip to content

Is Phillies' Lidge hurt?

The Phillies said it's nothing serious.

They hope so.

Closer Brad Lidge, the team's key offseason acquisition that allowed the Phillies to return Brett Myers to the rotation, limped off the field this morning after he caught his spike in the mound while throwing live batting practice on Ashburn Field at the Carpenter Complex.

Lidge had just started to throw batting practice when he stopped after he threw a pitch. Manager Charlie Manuel, pitching coach Rich Dubee and athletic trainer Scott Sheridan conferred with Lidge on the mound.

Lidge then limped back into the Phillies' clubhouse with Sheridan.

Lidge had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee after last season with the Houston Astros. He has said his knee is not 100 percent, but would be able to pitch by Opening Day. The Phillies said he stopped throwing for precautionary reasons because he felt some irritation in the knee.

Contact staff writer Todd Zolecki at 215-854-4874 or tzolecki@phillynews.com. Read his blog at http://go.philly.com/zozone.