"It has been nearly four months since Brad Lidge threw a pitch in a Phillies uniform. That was during the last week of spring training, when his shoulder hurt and his elbow hurt and even the always optimistic Lidge wasn't sure what the future might hold.

"Baseball seemed far away," he said.

But Friday, it wasn't far at all. Lidge was back in the locker room with his teammates and, for the first time this season, ready to pitch in a big league game.

"It's felt like Opening Day for me," Lidge said. "I had those butterflies in my stomach and it's a lot of fun being back on the team.""