Gordon ready to provide relief for needy Phillies

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Phillies closer Tom Gordon was activated off the disabled list Sunday and ready to rejoin a bullpen that has struggled during the Phillies' wild-card push.

"I feel ready," Gordon said before Sunday's doubleheader against Atlanta. "I just want to get out and help this team as fast as I can."

Gordon, who was on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder, pitched two scoreless innings in his final rehab start for Class-A Clearwater on Saturday.

"It worked out well because I felt I really needed to go two innings," Gordon said. "I think that really helped me because I felt it was all behind me, especially once I came off the mound."

Gordon said he would talk to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel before deciding when he'd pitch again, though it was unlikely he'd be available for the doubleheader.

The Phillies entered Sunday one game behind San Diego in the NL wild card standings, but Arthur Rhodes blew two straight save opportunities last week in losses.

In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer off Rhodes in the ninth inning to lead Atlanta to a 4-3 victory. Rhodes also wasted a two-run lead in the ninth inning of a 6-5, 10-inning loss to Washington on Thursday night.

"It's tough, especially late in the season, to stay sharp every day," Gordon said.

The All-Star is 3-4 with a 3.28 ERA and 27 saves. He was placed on the 15-day DL Aug. 21, retroactive to Aug. 13.