Utley comes out swinging in first rehab appearance

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Showing no signs of any knee problems, Chase Utley batted seven times, all against lefties, during his first extended spring training game in Dunedin.

Utley, who has yet to play this season while recovering from a knee injury, went 5-for-7 with two homers, three singles, two RBI, and three runs scored off a pair of Toronto lefthanders. More impressively, Utley was able to beat out a throw on one of the singles, a good sign that his health is improving.

His first home run went about 390 feet to the opposite field, but his second was a tape measure shot to right field that would have been in the second deck at Citizens Bank Park.

"I tried to fool him with a change up on 2-2," said Blue Jays lefthander John Anderson of one of the Utley homers, "then threw a 3-2 fastball away and he hit it."

He also played seven of the eight innings in the field.

More important than his performance will be how his knees react to the extended baseball activites, something he hasn't done yet this season. As a precaution, the Phillies are not yet ready to let Utley play on back-to-back games, so he is expected to have Sunday off.

Utley also donned the high socks that are required of all Phillies minor leaguers.