Ryan Howard likes what he's seen so far from J.A. Happ.

Philadelphia right-hander Brett Myers has been cleared by an ophthalmologist for a long-toss session on Monday, three days after injuring his eye.

You're the head chef at a popular Center City restaurant. You're 73 years old, but haven't retired because you still love to cook. You're good at your job and your customers love you.

Defense betrayed the Phillies in the fateful ninth inning as the Braves rallied to win.

Brad Lidge is still confident in his abilities, even as he continues to accumulate blown saves.

The Philadelphia Phillies say right-hander Brett Myers has changed his description of how he sustained an injury that forced him to miss his first scheduled rehab start.

Chase Utley went deep. So did Ryan Howard.

ATLANTA - Ryan Howard led off the ninth inning with a home run and the Phillies won their fourth straight game, beating the Braves 3-2 on Friday night in the opener of an important National League East series.

Nothing beats adding a Cy Young Award winner to your pitching staff at the trading deadline. Just ask the Philadelphia Phillies how good Cliff Lee has been since coming over from the Cleveland Indians late last month.

The 21-year-old faces two misdemeanor counts in the Wrigley Field beer incident.

Phils look to their pitchers down the stretch

Howard hammers Phils to series win

Werth proves worth his salt in career year

Manuel not looking over shoulder yet

After eye injury, Myers cleared to return

Lidge's errors, blown save sink Phillies

Lidge puzzled by tough outing

Happ draws praise from Braves' Cox

Myers scratched from rehab start

Howard's homer lifts Phils over Braves

ATLANTA - The uncomfortable questions hang over the first-place Phillies as the final month of the season approaches: Will Brad Lidge stabilize? And if not, what will the team do?

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Phillies righthander Clay Condrey said it might be a while before he rejoins his teammates. "This is going to go a bit slower," Condrey said after his workout yesterday morning, "We're probably not looking for anytime before Sept. 1, but hopefully we'll see how it's going next week."

ATLANTA - The good news for the Phillies is that Brett Myers' hip continues to respond well to rehabilitation. The bad news is that what he says was a freak accident to his eye could push his first rehab start back a week.

ATLANTA - Pick a theory, any theory. He likes the hot weather. Reminds him of home. He likes the stretch run. Thrives under pressure. Whatever the case, the fact remains, right now is about the time Ryan Howard starts heating up.

READING - Domonic Brown led off the ninth inning with a double and then scored later on Kevin Mahar's single to give the Reading Phillies a 1-0 win over the Binghamton Mets yesterday in the Eastern League.

ATLANTA - Phillies pitcher Brett Myers said he was not involved in an altercation that occurred early Saturday morning while he was at a bar in Jacksonville, Fla., and multiple eyewitnesses confirmed his account.

Alex Gonzalez went 1 for 4 and left three men on base yesterday in Boston's 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers, leaving his batting average at a microscopic .125 this season.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel knows Ryan Howard is a dangerous hitter even when he's not tracking pitches perfectly.

Righthander Hiroki Kuroda was released from a Seattle hospital yesterday and cleared to fly home with the Los Angeles Dodgers, one day after he was struck on the right side of his head by a line drive.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Ian Kinsler homered and drove in two runs, Dustin Nippert pitched six solid innings and the Texas Rangers passed Boston in the AL wild-card race, beating the Red Sox, 4-3, yesterday.

2009 Draft signing deadline looms

Braves cruise past D-backs in makeup

Vlad powers Angels past Orioles

Big sixth helps Giants split set with Mets

Tigers acquire veteran infielder Huff

Young fan catches back-to-back foul balls

Four managers withstand test of time

New BTS leader reaches 41-game mark

Smoltz officially released by Red Sox

Wright aims to return after DL stint

The Philadelphia Phillies said right-hander Brett Myers has changed his description of how he sustained an injury that forced him to miss his first scheduled rehab start.

The Chicago Cubs fan accused of pelting Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino with a beer says he's sorry, and hopes his fellow fans can forgive him.

Ryan Howard homered twice and drove in four runs to back rookie J.A. Happ's strong start, and Brad Lidge earned an easy save as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Sunday night.

Ryan Howard homered twice and drove in with four runs to back rookie J.A. Happ's 7 2-3 strong innings, and Brad Lidge earned an easy save to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Sunday night.

ATLANTA, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Ryan Howard drove in all of Philadelphia's runs with a solo homer and a three-run shot Sunday to lead the Philadelphia Phillies past Atlanta 4-1.

Brett Myers told one story, then changed his mind and told another to explain the left eye injury that forced him to postpone his first minor-league rehab appearance Saturday in Clearwater, Fla.

Ryan Howard homered twice and drove in with four runs to back rookie J.A. Happ's seven and two-thirds strong innings, and Brad Lidge earned an easy save to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves four-to-one on Sunday night.

Ryan Howard likes what he's seen so far from J.A. Happ. "He's not a rookie any more," Howard said. "He's proven himself to be a very poised pitcher." Howard homered twice and drove in four runs to back Happ's strong start, and Brad Lidge earned an easy save as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Sunday night.

Brad Lidge still is confident in his abilities, even as he continues to accumulate blown saves. Lidge committed two errors on one play to help set up Omar Infante's game-ending single and the Braves rallied to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, Saturday in Atlanta.

Ryan Howard homered twice and drove in four runs to back rookie J.A. Happ's strong start, and Brad Lidge earned an easy save as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Sunday nigh

Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard(notes), right, celebrates with Shane Victorino(notes) afte hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Sunday Aug. 16, 2009 in Atlanta. Howard hit two homers and had four RBI tp help the Phillies win 4-1.

Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard(notes) follows through with a three-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in Atlanta. The homer was Howard's second of the game.

Atlanta Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar(notes) throws to first after forcing out Philadelphia Phillies' Pedro Feliz(notes) on a ball hit by Carlos Ruiz(notes) during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in Atlanta. Ruiz was safe at first.

Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz(notes) can't reach a foul ball off the bat of Atlanta Braves' Brian McCann(notes) in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves starter Javier Vazquez(notes) works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday Aug. 16, 2009, in Atlanta.

Philadelphia Phillies starter J.A. Happ(notes) works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in Atlanta.

Philadelphia Phillies' Pedro Feliz(notes) connects with an RBI-triple against the Atlanta Braves during the firth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, at Turner Field in Atlanta. The Braves won 4-3.

Atlanta Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami(notes) (11), of Japan, walks back to the mound as Philadelphia Phillies Jayson Werth(notes), background, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves' Kenshin Kawakami(notes), of Japan, adjusts his helmet as he stands on-deck to bat against the Philadelphia Phillies at a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels(notes) (35) walks back to the mound as Atlanta Braves Brian McCann(notes), background, rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, at Turner Field in Atlanta. The Braves won 4-3.