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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:06 a.m., Sunday, July 6, 2008

Baseball: Phillies give closer Lidge three-year extension

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Closer Brad Lidge signed a $37.5 million, three-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Lidge would've been a free agent after this season. The 31-year-old right-hander has 19 saves in 19 chances and a 0.77 ERA in 35 appearances in his first season in Philadelphia.

Lidge is 2-0 with 47 strikeouts in 35 innings and set a club record by converting his first 19 save opportunities this season. He didn't allow an earned run through his first 17 appearances (17 innings), which was the second-longest by a Phillies pitcher to start his career with the team.

The Phillies acquired Lidge from Houston in November in a five-player trade.