Utley has the president's vote

It probably won't improve his approval ratings in the Philadelphia area, but

President Bush

offered an interesting answer this week when asked who would be the first position player he would want if he owned a baseball team again.

He would want Chase Utley.

"I like Utley from the Philadelphia Phillies," Bush said in a transcript at politico.com. "He's a middle infielder, which is always - you know, they say strength up the middle. There's nothing better than having a good person up the middle that can hit."

Utley, who is not expected to be campaigning for any candidate any time soon, took the news in stride.

"It's obviously a great compliment to have," Utley said. "It's kind of cool."

Bush, the former managing general partner of the Texas Rangers, also said the first pitcher he would want is Toronto Blue Jays righthander Roy Halladay.

"He's a steady guy," Bush said. "He burns up innings."

So which pitcher would Utley take?

"I'd go with a younger guy, somebody who is going to be around a little while," Utley said. "Roy Halladay obviously is exceptional and has great years ahead of him, but I'd take a guy who's been pitching two or three years and is going to be pitching another 10 years, somebody like Cole Hamels."

And a position player? Utley again said he would go young, but he would not say whom he would take. Maybe he just liked the president's answer best.

Eric Bruntlett

pinch-ran for

Pat Burrell

and scored a run in the seventh inning of Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the Braves. He then played left field in the eighth and ninth.

Bruntlett is known more as an infielder, but he has played the outfield in 55 games in his six-year career.

"If they need me out there, I'll be ready," Bruntlett said. "I'm not going to be a Gold Glove-caliber player out there, but I'll do a decent job."

Bruntlett and So Taguchi took fly balls a couple of hours before batting practice last night at Citizens Bank Park. Charlie Manuel said Bruntlett afforded him another option when it came to late-inning moves.

"He can go get the ball," the manager said.

Manuel kept

Jayson Werth

in center field for the second straight game.

Shane Victorino

played right.

"Shane might be back in center tomorrow," Manuel said. "I don't know."

Manuel typically has used Werth against lefthanded pitchers and Geoff Jenkins against righthanded ones, but Manuel said Werth could see more action against righthanders.

"When Werth is knocking in some runs and playing good, I want to keep him in the lineup, too," Manuel said.

Closer

Brad Lidge

allowed his first earned run Tuesday in his 18th appearance, covering 17 innings. In Phillies history, only

Roger McDowell

made more appearances to start his Phillies career without allowing an earned run. He had 20 scoreless appearances in 251/3 innings in 1989.

Lidge entered last night with a 2.02 ERA in his last 36 appearances, having yielded eight earned runs in 352/3 innings. He also had converted 13 consecutive save opportunities.

Jimmy Rollins

knows music, and he recently changed his at-bat intro theme. If it sounds like the tune from a popular Geico commercial, that's because it is. Rollins swapped Rocko's "Umma Do Me" for Royksopp's "Remind Me."

Is it because he likes the song or the commercial?

"Both," Rollins joked.

A fan fell over the outfield fence and onto the warning track in left field during batting practice when he reached for a ball. He broke his fall by hanging onto the railing before he lost his grip and fell about 10 feet. The Phils treated him medically and offered him a trip to a hospital, but he declined. The Phillies later drove him home and offered him tickets to a future game. Players who witnessed the incident said Adam Eaton threw a ball toward another fan in the stands, and the fan tried to step in front and catch it. . . . Braves first baseman

Mark Texeira

returned to the lineup after being out since Monday with back spasms. . . .

Chris Coste's

four hits tied a career high. He had four hits twice previously in his big-league career, most recently on April 17, against Houston.

- Todd Zolecki