• Phillies closer Brad Lidge will be activated from the disabled list before tonight's game against the Mets. Lidge was placed on the disabled list March 26 while recovering from right elbow surgery. He went 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA with four walks and eight strikeouts in eight rehab appearances. The Phillies optioned lefty Antonio Bastardo to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
• Atlanta starterJair Jurrjens (0-3) strained his left hamstring and lasted only one inning in a 10-4 loss to St. Louis, which swept Atlanta for the first time since 1993.
• Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (1-2, 3.65) will miss his scheduled start today at Atlanta because of back spasms. Houston will move Brett Myers up a day to replace Rodriguez, who may pitch Saturday.
• Pittsburgh starter Brian Burres (1-1) allowed four hits over 5 1/3 innings with four walks and three strikeouts for the Pirates, who have won three straight after beating the Dodgers 2-0.
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• For 27 straight batters, R.A. Dickey was perfect. It was the first one that got him. The Mets minor leaguer didn't allow a baserunner after a leadoff single on his third pitch in the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons' 4-0 win over the Durham Bulls on Thursday. Dickey, 35, who struck out six, started throwing a knuckleball after a 2005 shoulder injury cost him velocity on his fastball.
The Associated Press
