"It was 2-for-1 drink night at Bright House Field as it is every Thursday when the Threshers play a home Florida State League game. But for five innings, it was far from a normal night on the farm.

A few more fans than usual dotted the blue seats for Thirsty Thursday. Four TV cameras transmitted the action to the Philadelphia area, where fans could watch three rehabbing Phillies - Chase Utley, Roy Oswalt, and Carlos Ruiz - compete for Clearwater against players in their professional baseball infancy at single A.

The results were a mix of promise and concern. Utley homered and handled limited strenuous chances on his right knee with ease. Ruiz singled and felt no pain in his back when blocking balls and squatting behind the plate.

But Oswalt, pitching competitively for the first time in 16 days, lacked zip on his fastball. Ruiz said it was a struggle for Oswalt early without life and location on the fastball. One scout concurred, saying Oswalt hovered between 88 and 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun, topping out at 92. He typically averages 93 m.p.h.

Oswalt said nothing. He left the ballpark before speaking to reporters.

"It was a struggle in the first couple of innings," Ruiz said.

The Phillies were hoping to slot Oswalt right into the rotation on regular rest for Tuesday's series finale against St. Louis. That may be unrealistic without his usual fastball.

"That's a big pitch for him," Ruiz said. "When he's on, he's not afraid to throw a fastball. He'll throw it in any count. Today was a little different."

Oswalt, who missed time with a bad back and dealing with family matters in tornado-ravaged Mississippi, allowed three runs in five innings (73 pitches) and struck out five Palm Beach Cardinals. The damage was limited because he could throw his off-speed stuff with proficiency against inexperienced hitters. But against major-leaguers, he will need his fastball, a pitch he has thrown 64.7 percent of the time in his career, according to Fangraphs.com."