By AIMEE SACHS
For The Trentonian
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Chase Utley went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in his first rehab start with the Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday night, but his mere presence in the lineup was promising news for a frustrated Phillies fan base.
The game went to extra innings, and Utley’s third strikeout came with a runner on in the bottom of the 10th. He heard a few boos from the folks in Clearwater, something he rarely - if ever - hears in Philadelphia. Utley laughed it off after the game.
"I guess they didn't appreciate the strikeout, but it's a work in progress," he said.
Utley popped out into foul territory on a 1-2 pitch in his first at-bat in the first inning and flew out to deep left center on a 2-2 pitch in his second at-bat in the fourth inning.

The 33-year-old struck out in his final three at-bats. He was caught looking on a full count in the sixth inning, and went down swinging after working the count full again in the eighth inning before whiffing on a 2-2 pitch to end the 10th inning.
"It is what is is," he went on to say about his performance. "It was day one. It was just good to be out there playing at night, so it will be fun to continue this."
Utley said he plans to DH again Wednesday night when the Threshers travel to Tampa to play the second of a three-game set with the Yankees. He hopes to play in the field soon, but emphasized the need to "be better safe than sorry" at this point and get a feel for how his body responds. So far, so good, he said.
"I want to be able to play at 100 percent, and we’re almost there," Utley said. "Taking ground balls this past week, I started out slow and progressed, made it a little harder, started going after them close to full strength, and I want to be able to do that on back-to-back days until I get out in a game situation."
It was nearly 13 months ago to the day that Chase Utley made his first rehab start with the Threshers, batting third as the designated hitter as he worked his way back from chronic knee soreness in a season in which he hit .259 with only 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 103 games.
"At this point, it's very familiar," Utley said of the rehab process. "I'm not necessarily proud of it, but it is what it is and I'm definitely improving."
Utley’s knees have prevented him from seeing any big league game action in 2012 after being shelved during spring training. Ryan Howard’s Achilles injury has kept the slugger on the shelf all year as well, which hasn’t helped matters for the flailing Phillies.
The Phillies have struggled mightily without Utley and Howard, leaving them in the cellar of the National League East, entering Tuesday’s action against the Twins 8 ½ games back of the NL East leading Nationals.
To make matters worse, Utley’s replacement at second base, rookie Freddy Galvis, went on the disabled list with a pars fracture in his back on June 7.
But from the outside looking in on his team, Utley said he isn't too worried.
"We have some scrappers on that team," he said. "I know with Ryan and Roy (Halladay) and (me) out it's a little bit more difficult, but we have guys who can do a good job."
"I think the pieces are there. We have the guys to win and we've done it before. We just have to kind of put it together."