Phillies' Utley goes 2-for-3, including first homer, in rehab assignment

CHASE UTLEY hit his first home run for Clearwater and added a single in three at-bats Wednesday night as the Threshers beat the Dunedin Blue Jays, 3-2.

On the strength of his 2-for-3 performance — his first multi-hit game during his current six-game rehab stint — Utley raised his average to .217 (5-for-23).

Starting at second base and batting third, Utley grounded out to first in the first inning, added a two-run homer in the fourth and singled in the sixth.

Upon his departure after eight innings, his homer had accounted for both Thresher runs and he banged out two of their three hits.

Defensively, among his four flawless chances that included a caught-stealing, Utley started a 4-6-3 doubleplay in the top of the first inning.

Clearwater bunched together three hits in the ninth to win it. Utley's replacement, Albert Cartwright, started the rally with a single and came around to score the winning run.