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BOS@PHI: Manuel breaks down Lee's performance vs. Sox

In last year's National League Division Series matchup between the Cardinals and Phillies, Kyle Lohse took the Cardinals' loss in Game 1 and Cliff Lee took the Phillies' loss in Game 2.

They'll both take the ball for their respective teams Friday, when the Cardinals and Phillies meet for the second game of their four-game series.

The Phillies scored in five different innings and won Thursday's slugfest, 10-9. With the first-place Reds defeating the Braves on Thursday, the Cardinals fell a half-game back in the NL Central.

Lee (0-2) is still winless on the season despite giving up two runs or fewer in four of his six starts and holding a 2.66 ERA. In his last outing, though, Lee gave up five runs in seven innings against the Red Sox.

Lohse (5-1) gave up 11 hits in his last outing against the Dodgers, but only three runs. After allowing three total earned runs in his first four starts, Lohse has given up 15 earned runs in his last five.

But thanks to his stellar start to the season, Lohse's ERA is still a solid 2.91.

He'll face a Phillies lineup that's lost some of its superstar luster. But as the Phillies showed on Thursday, they can still put up crooked numbers.

"When you look up and down their lineup, they've got some players that are hitting the ball very well," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "It's not your normal cast of characters, but they've got the ability to put some runs on the board. It's a good team. They're very well-rounded, and it's just a matter of time before they start getting some guys back."

Cardinals: Berkman's surgery moved to Friday
Lance Berkman will have right knee surgery near his home in Houston on Friday, a day later than originally planned due to a conflict in the surgeon's schedule.

The procedure will repair the torn meniscus in Berkman's right knee and examine the anterior cruciate ligament to determine if it has been compromised or torn.

If surgery on the ligament is deemed necessary, Berkman will miss the rest of the season. Berkman said he thinks the ligament might be compromised because he hasn't felt stable on it.

"I've been preaching all year to control the things we can control, and we certainly can't control what they're going to find when they go in there and start doing some exploration," Matheny said. "But obviously I've been thinking about him, praying for him. I want the best to happen for him, as much for us."

Phillies: Utley takes some ground balls
Second baseman Chase Utley, who hasn't played a game this season because of chronic tendinitis in his knees, took some ground balls before Thursday's game.

Utley rejoined the team on May 5. There still is no timetable for his return. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Utley won't move beyond batting practice and pregame activities until he's ready to play in a game.

"Looking at what we went through last year with him, we want to make sure that he's ready to play and endure some of the pain ... no pain, if possible," Manuel said. "That's what we're looking for, no pain playing."

Manuel didn't want to discuss the possibility of moving Utley to another less physically demanding position before Utley has the chance to demonstrate that he feels absolutely no pain.

Worth noting
• After missing three games for the birth of his first child, shortstop Jimmy Rollins led off for the Phillies on Thursday. He went 2-for-6 with a strikeout in the victory and is 94 hits away from 2,000.

• The Cardinals have outscored opponents in the third inning 44-15. The only innings in which they've been outscored are the seventh and the 12th.

• With Thursday's win, the Phillies are 16-11 at the new Busch Stadium, the most for any NL team outside of the Central Division.

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