"Brad Lidge is in his ninth season in the majors, and a season debut is usually little more than just another game to him.

That was not the case Monday, when Lidge made his first Phillies appearance of the season. He pitched the seventh inning and retired the San Diego Padres in order.

He said it almost matched the thrill and excitement of his major-league debut back in 2002 with Houston.

Lidge hadn't pitched since straining his rotator cuff in spring training. There were doubts he would return this season, and there were certainly doubts about his effectiveness.

So Lidge jogged in from the bullpen to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park. After throwing 11 pitches -- nine of them sliders -- Lidge walked off to an even louder ovation.

"The ovation was great enough where I definitely noticed it," Lidge said. "It was just a great feeling. It was a very different -- kind of a unique outing for me in that regard. It was something I'm going to remember for a long time."

Starter Cliff Lee gave up five runs on 10 hits through four innings, his shortest outing since April 8, as the Phillies lost 5-4 to the Padres. But the loss was overshadowed by Lidge's return.

That's because the former closer could mean so much for a bullpen that has relied on two unproven young relievers -- Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes. And Lidge's presence could dictate that the Phillies go after a hitter instead of a reliever as the Sunday trade deadline approaches.

"That would mean we have another big pitcher for the seventh inning," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "That's big."

Lidge knows he won't be going back to the closer role anytime soon, if at all. That belongs to Ryan Madson, and, at times, Bastardo.

But Lidge showed he has the potential to become a reliable reliever for the Phillies (64-37) in the later innings."