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MIN@PIT: Bedard fans seven over six innings of work

After stopping a rough three-start slide in his previous outing, Pirates left-hander Erik Bedard will try halt a road skid on Tuesday against the Phillies.

Bedard last earned a win away from PNC Park against the Cardinals on May 3, and has surrendered 16 runs on 19 hits in three starts since then.

Pittsburgh will also hope to get out of its slide at Citizens Bank Park; the Pirates have never won a series at the Phillies' home since the stadium opened in 2004.

"We don't have a good record here," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "As a matter of fact, I'll be the first one to tell you that early in my managerial career [with the Rockies], I don't think I ever managed a team that won a game at the old ballpark [Veterans Stadium]. I think we got wiped out the two times we went in, so I was a big fan of this park being built."

The Phillies' Vance Worley is hoping he can take advantage of that and snap his two-game losing streak.

Worley has combined to give up just three earned runs in his last two starts, but the offense did little to help him, scoring just one run over the two games.

Worley cruised through six innings in his most recent start, against the Rockies, before allowing a two-run homer with two outs in the seventh. That proved to be the difference, as the Phillies plated only one run in the game.

In all, Worley allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings. He also walked and struck out two for his fourth loss of the season.

"That's a part of the game," said Worley after the game about the lack of run support. "Everything isn't going to go your way. Tonight I didn't have my best stuff, but I was able to go out and compete and keep the team in it."

Pirates: Morris returns to Minors
On Monday, one day after being promoted to the Pirates, Bryan Morris was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for Jeff Karstens. Morris, who did not have the opportunity to make his Major League debut in his one day with the club, is 1-2 with five saves and a 2.28 ERA in 23 relief appearances with Indianapolis.

• Infielder Drew Sutton, claimed off waivers from the Rays on Sunday, is set to join the Pirates on Tuesday afternoon. Sutton, who was designated for assignment on Friday, hit .271 with six RBIs in 18 games with Tampa Bay.

Phillies: Utley could be in lineup on Wednesday
Second baseman Chase Utley worked out with the Phillies on Monday and will play a rehab game on Tuesday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. If all goes OK, he's expected to be activated and hitting third in the Phillies' lineup on Wednesday.

"Utley is our three-hole hitter," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I think he is the guy that works the count. I think he is the guy that when he's right, he'll hit 25 to 30 homers. I think he is the guy that will hit .300. I think he is the guy that can knock in 100 runs and score 100. That's what I picture Utley to be. I think until we find somebody I think can do better, more than likely he's going to land in that three-hole."

Manuel indicated that Utley will work his way back into action slowly before being turned loose; Utley believes he'll eventually be playing five, six or seven games a week.

Worth noting
• Bedard is five strikeouts shy of 1,000 for his career. Reaching that mark would make him the 13th active left-hander with at least that many. The Yankees' Andy Pettitte is the active leader, with 2,303.

• The Phillies are 19-5 all-time against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.

• Pittsburgh has 40 home runs on the road this year, the third most in the National League behind St. Louis (46) and Atlanta (44).

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