Phillies Notes: Phillies' Werth returns from DL

ATLANTA -

Jayson Werth

was back from Florida, just in time for manager

Charlie Manuel

to put him in the lineup.

The Phillies activated Werth from the 15-day disabled list before last night's game against the Braves at Turner Field, and outrighted outfielder

Chris Snelling

to triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room for him on the 25-man roster.

Werth, who hit sixth against Braves lefthander

Jo-Jo

Reyes

, had been out with a strained right abdominal muscle, which he suffered May 22 while taking a swing against the Houston Astros.

"I tested it a couple of days down there," Werth said of his rehabilitation assignment Thursday and Friday with single-A Clearwater. "We were pretty aggressive with it after the MRI results and everything. I felt comfortable with coming off after 15 days."

Werth entered the night hitting .260 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs in 131 at-bats. He was hitting .309 with six homers and 17 RBIs against lefthanders, and .224 with three homers and nine RBIs against righthanders.

Geoff Jenkins

, the other half of the Phillies' platoon in right field, was hitting .299 with six homers and 17 RBIs against righthanders and .143 (2 for 14) against lefthanders.

The Phils acquired Snelling in a trade with Tampa Bay in November for cash considerations because they thought he could hit and provide more depth in the outfield.

He did that.

Snelling has had four at-bats with the Phillies this season, but his two hits in those at-bats led to big victories. He hit a pinch-hit home run to lead off the ninth inning against Astros closer

Jose Valverde

that sparked a four-run rally in a 4-3 win April 15 at Citizens Bank Park. He hit a leadoff double in the 10th to spark a two-run rally in Friday's 4-3 victory over the Braves.

"He can hit," Manuel said. "He's got a good swing. He works hard at his hitting. But the way it sets up, it's hard to keep him."

The Phillies are carrying 12 pitchers, and they have no plans to carry 11. They also need

So Taguchi

as the fifth outfielder for late-inning defensive and pinch-running purposes.

Snelling, who has had numerous problems and surgeries with his left knee (inflammation had Snelling on the DL from April 20 through Monday), isn't that type of player.

"If we can find the room, he's definitely a guy we'd consider keeping around to hit," Manuel said.

Snelling is out of options and has three days to accept or reject his assignment to Lehigh Valley. But because he is signed to a $450,000 contract, he was expected to accept it. If he doesn't accept it, Snelling would forfeit that contract.

The Phillies had their seventh comeback victory in the eighth inning or later on Friday. They lead baseball with 20 come-from-behind wins this season.

Adam Eaton

will pitch this afternoon in the series finale against the Braves, going for his fourth consecutive quality start. Eaton hasn't had four straight quality starts since he had six in a row June 6 to July 3, 2004, when he pitched for San Diego.

The Phillies entered last night 15-7 (.682) against lefthanded starters.

Chase Utley

led baseball with 11 homers against lefties.

Ryan

Howard

and Werth were tied for fourth with six homers against southpaws.