Notes: Lidge's strain not serious Closer threw session, should be fine for Reds opener By Alyson Footer / MLB.com DENVER -- Brad Lidge was not available for Wednesday's series finale in Colorado because of a mild strain in the lower bicep area of his right arm, but he hopes to be ready for the opener in Cincinnati on Thursday. Lidge hasn't pitched since he felt the strain while throwing long toss during batting practice at home last Saturday. He could have pitched that day, but manager Phil Garner said the next day that Lidge was going to need a few days off to rest. "He should be OK tomorrow," Garner said in Denver on Wednesday. "He was just throwing long toss when he felt a tweak. It's probably just a slight strain. I don't think it's a big problem." Lidge threw a bullpen session Wednesday morning and pushed himself to close to full strength, a good sign that this setback won't sideline him much longer. "When you pull a muscle or get a strain, which is kind of what I did, it should get better fast as long as you proceed with caution," Lidge said. "But if you try to run right back out there, you can make it worse." On Tuesday, Lidge was examined by team medical director David Lintner, who put Lidge's mind at ease when he assured the closer the injury was just a very mild pull. Lidge admitted he was "pretty worried" up until that point. "[Lintner] said just be smart about it the next couple of days," Lidge said. " I did it from long toss, not from overuse. I may have been throwing funky that day or something. Sometimes you come out and your mechanics are just off a little bit and you pull something. Obviously, you're not going to tear anything just by doing long toss, but you might pull something and kind of cramp it up and feel a little pinch." Bottle job: Following his seven-inning performance against the Rockies on Tuesday, Roger Clemens heaped praise onto his catcher, Brad Ausmus, for his exceptional game-calling skills. "A couple times guys got on early and I was fortunate to make some really good pitches," Clemens said. "I told Brad after the game they ought to bottle that and send it to our Minor League catchers. He called a brilliant game, and I was able to stick some pitches in there right where we wanted to. It was probably the best I located all year." Especially in the sixth inning, when Clemens struck out the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters after allowing consecutive leadoff base hits. "That's what you wish your younger players are paying attention to," Garner said. "The guy gives up a couple [of] base hits and the inning looks like it could unravel a little bit. Every pitch he threw that inning, if it was off the plate. It couldn't have been more than four inches off the plate. Every stinking pitch. "There are guys out there that have better arms than Clemens, believe it or not. But they can't do what he can do. That's where he's phenomenal. Part of the skill level is being able to put the ball where you want to." Soldiers phone home: The Astros and Cingular Wireless will help United States military personnel call home this July 4 with a Cell Phones for Soldiers Drive and free worldwide calls at Minute Maid Park during the Astros' game with the Padres at 1:05 p.m. CT. The Astros and Cingular Wireless urge all fans attending the Fourth of July game to bring their old cell phones to donate to the Cell Phones for Soldiers Drive. Volunteers from the First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood will be collecting the old phones at all of the Minute Maid Park gates, and donated cell phones will go to help purchase phone cards for America's soldiers to call home. Cell Phones for Soldiers, a national non-profit organization, was begun by two Massachusetts teenagers. Every fan donating a phone will receive a coupon for a free Astros American Spirit package goods at any participating Cingular Wireless store. With the Astros American Spirit package, fans can receive a red, white or blue cell phone face plate, free downloads of a baseball or patriotic cell phone screen graphic or free downloads of cell phone ring tones such as "America the Beautiful" or "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." In addition, Cingular Wireless is making it possible for all American military personnel and families of American military personnel in attendance at the Fourth of July game to call their loved one anywhere in the world for free over the Cingular Wireless network. Fans at the game are encouraged to look for the special Cingular Wireless sites around Minute Maid Park. Odds and ends: Garner scheduled regular batting practice on the field prior to Wednesday's day game to give his players exposure to the sunlight, which can be a challenge at Coors Field on a bright, sunny day. ... Morgan Ensberg , Adam Everett and Jose Vizcaino all wore their special red contact lenses, which give them eye protection without having to wear sunglasses. ... The Astros have no more off-days between now and the All-Star break. Following their four-game set in Cincinnati, they will return to Minute Maid Park to host four with the Padres and three with the Dodgers. ... Craig Biggio became the Astros' franchise leader in the hit by pitch category all the way back in 1995, when he was plunked for the 48th time. Until then, Glenn Davis was the club leader with 47. Coming up: The Astros travel to Cincinnati to begin a four-game set with the Reds on Thursday. Right-hander Brandon Backe (6-6, 5.31 ERA) will face Reds left-hander Eric Milton (3-9, 7.70 ERA). http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050629&content_ id=1108474&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou --

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