text: --RHP Brad Lidge hasn't pitched in a save situation since April 25, leaving him time to fix his flawed mechanics and sharpen his command without worrying about blowing a lead. But without the game on the line, he said has lacked his usual focus. Thus, the results have been mixed. In the ninth inning Friday night, for example, Lidge gave up a leadoff walk and a double before Casey Kotchman belted a three-run homer to slice a 10-3 lead to 10-6. But he retired the next three batters, two by strikeout. On Sunday, he gave up a run in the ninth inning. Lidge already has allowed 12 runs in only 13 appearances (12-2/3 innings) for an 8.53 ERA after yielding only 15 runs all of last season. He also has surrendered five homers after allowing only two a year ago when he finished 48-for-48 in save opportunities, including the postseason. The good news: Lidge said his balky right knee is feeling fine after resting it for six days late last month. He believes his slider is sharp, and when his fastball command improves, he said he will be at full strength. "Being two weeks since my last save opportunity, I've almost got to tell myself, 'It's a one-run lead. Pitch like it,'" Lidge said. "Obviously, I haven't thrown the ball well. It's embarrassing, to be honest, to give up this many home runs. That being said, I feel fine. I'm encouraged."
  --RHP Joe Blanton threw a season-high 110 pitches Saturday and had a positive feeling about almost every one of them. So, how in the world did he allow six runs to the Braves? Beats the heck out of Blanton. "Sometimes you can throw a terrible pitch down the middle, and the guy hits a weak ground ball," he said. "Next pitch, you can throw it exactly where you want it, and the guy is going to hit a home run. If you sit here thinking about that all day, you're going to kill yourself." Between them, Blanton (6.82 ERA), Brett Myers (4.81), Chan Ho Park (6.67), Jamie Moyer (7.26) and Cole Hamels (6.17) had combined for a 6.47 ERA through Sunday, worst of any starting rotation in the majors, and had allowed 38 homers. "I don't think anybody's worried," Blanton said. "I think you can ask all four other guys. I wouldn't say we don't care, but we know it's a long season. We know what we can do. What was it, my sixth start? That's not very many. There's a lot more."