SAN DIEGO - When Pete Mackanin drew out his lineup before Friday night's series opener against the Padres, he didn't treat his newly activated second baseman as if he entered with a dismal .179 batting average.
Mackanin looked at it as if he pushed the reset button on Utley's season, which resumed Friday after 37 games missed because of a right-ankle injury. The six-time all-star reentered the Phillies' lineup as their second baseman and leadoff hitter, the first time in 11 seasons he batted out of the top spot.
"He's been hitting the ball well and he says he's ready," said Mackanin, the Phillies interim manager.