"Chase Utley wasn't talking one day after doing his first serious running since injuring his knee, but general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. cautioned that progress for the second baseman remains slow.

Utley did about 15 minutes of shuttle drills and base-running work Thursday in Washington, his first running since being shelved a week into spring training with tendinitis and bone inflammation in his knee.

Amaro said that's a good step, but he'll need to see a lot more from Utley before entertaining the notion of getting the second baseman into a game.

"He's going to probably have to do several days of going 100 percent and not feeling (pain) before we do anything as far as a rehab," Amaro said. "That's why it's a slow process. It's the first step of him actually doing something that's pretty rigorous."

While Utley's progress remains slow and guarded, there was better news on two other injured Phillies.

Closer Brad Lidge is scheduled to meet with team physician Dr. Michael Cicotti today to get a progress report on his injured shoulder. He hasn't thrown in more than four weeks, but he's hopeful that could change as soon as next week."