Major League Baseball

Phillies Notes: Phillies' Polanco says he expects to play in Game 2

Published Oct. 8, 2010 10:51 a.m. ET

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Just about the only thing that went wrong Wednesday for the Phillies was the absence of third baseman Placido Polanco from the starting lineup due to back spasms he suffered Monday.

But Polanco said he expects to be back for Friday's Game 2 of the National League division series against Cincinnati.

"Better," Polanco said Thursday. "I'm feeling good."

He was well enough to take batting practice and field grounders at third, a good sign for the Phillies. Polanco could not bend over or swing a bat Wednesday. Since then, he has received aggressive treatment.

"He said he felt a lot better," Charlie Manuel said. "He's doing good. Hopefully, we'll have him in the game tomorrow."

That would let Manuel put Wilson Valdez back on his bench and Polanco in his customary No. 2 hole in the lineup. It could also let him bat Shane Victorino at the top of the order and move Jimmy Rollins down.

Manuel said his original Game 1 lineup had Rollins at the bottom and Victorino up top. Polanco's injury forced a change.

Victorino's steal

Another moment lost thanks to Roy Halladay's no-hitter: Victorino's key steal of third base in the first inning that allowed him to score on a sacrifice fly by Chase Utley. That ended up being the decisive run.

Victorino stole the base off Reds starter Edinson Volquez. He had a large lead at second and took off with one out.

"The first move, he was a little bit slow," Victorino said. "I said, 'You know, I'm going to try to take a chance here.' Chase is a guy who is going to make contact. Instead of getting a hit, if I get to third, he can drive me in with a ground ball or a sacrifice fly."

Victorino barely beat catcher Ramon Hernandez's throw to third. Of course, the risk is making an out at third with both Utley and Ryan Howard coming to the plate.

"It's always daring when those guys are up," Victorino said. "As Charlie would say, I better be safe, or else he'll come get me. It was definitely a close play, a lot closer than I wanted it to be. I definitely took a chance there."

The seventh stolen base of Victorino's postseason career tied him with Rollins for the franchise lead. Victorino also became the Phillies' all-time leader in postseason hits with 35. He had been tied with Mike Schmidt.

Extra bases

Rookie outfielder Domonic Brown, on the roster as a bench player this round, said he would report to the Dominican Republic for winter ball on Nov. 15 and stay for about a month. Brown will play for Escogido. . . . Halladay's jersey from the game is headed for Cooperstown, N.Y., to be displayed at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Contact staff writer Matt Gelb at 215-854-2928 or mgelb@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @magelb.

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