Phillies Notes | Bonds slumps in HR pursuit

The last time

Barry Bonds

faced

Jon Lieber

at Citizens Bank Park, the San Francisco Giants leftfielder almost hit a ball into the third deck in right field for career homer No. 713.

That was in May of last season. Bonds did not get a hit against Lieber in yesterday's 8-1 victory over the Phillies. In fact, Bonds, who has homered just once since May 8, had a minimal impact in this four-game series: He went 3 for 11 with two doubles, three walks and one RBI.

He did not homer.

"Right now, he's trying to hit homers," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's jumping out, swinging real hard. He's trying to muscle the ball instead of just swinging nice and easy and catching it out front. Before when he was hitting all those home runs . . . he had good balance and he definitely had a good technique. He had a short, quick swing. About as good as you'll see. Right now, he's jumping. He's trying to force it."

On Sunday, the Detroit Tigers released righthander

Jose Mesa,

who had a 12.43 ERA in 112/3 innings.

Mesa pitched with the Phillies from 2001 to '03 and holds the franchise record with 111 saves. So far this year, the Phils have taken a look at righthanders Dustin Hermanson and Troy Percival in a bid to improve their desperately thin bullpen. Could they take a look at Mesa?

"We will leave no stone unturned," Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

But Mesa's return seems unlikely. Mesa told the Detroit Free Press he would like to continue pitching, but also seems to understand that opportunities might not be there.

"If this is [the end], I'm happy," Mesa said.

The Phillies said closer

Brett Myers,

who is on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, could begin to throw Thursday or Friday. Myers is eligible to be activated Friday, so he will not be back in the bullpen until much later. The righthander said he had no idea when he would begin to throw.

- Todd Zolecki