Lidge to have elbow examined

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DENVER -- Phillies reliever Brad Lidge flew back to Philadelphia from Denver on Wednesday to have his surgically repaired right elbow examined by the team's doctor.

Lidge

The Phillies' closer began the year on the disabled list following offseason surgery on his pitching elbow.

He allowed a home run in his season debut April 30 against the New York Mets. Since then, however, he had put together three consecutive scoreless innings in three appearances, capped by his first save of the season Sunday against the Atlanta Braves.

But after that outing, Lidge has been struggling with elbow stiffness. After Monday's session playing catch, he said the elbow "didn't feel great."

"We just want to make sure what's causing it," assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said Wednesday.

Lidge received a cortisone shot in spring training, and pitched in a number of minor league games before getting activated off the disabled list.

Lidge was 48 for 48 in save opportunities, including the playoffs, in 2008 while helping the Phillies win the World Series. He struggled last season, with a major league-high 11 blown saves.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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