Phillies' Lidge now likely out until July

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge likely will be out until around the July All-Star break, the injured pitcher said on Thursday.

"I sure hope to be on the mound by the All-Star break," Lidge told reporters. "If I'm not, I'll be disappointed."

The right-hander, 34, learned last month he had a right posterior rotator cuff strain in his shoulder. That put him on the disabled list for the second consecutive season.

Philadelphia, the National League favorite, had originally expected him to miss at least three to six weeks.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Frank Pingue)