Charlie Manuel must feel a little like the Flying Wallendas right now. Manuel is walking a high-wire as he tries to juggle things and kick-start the moribund Phillies’ offense.

Some days it works; some days you drop everything and fall off the wire.

On Wednesday Manuel juggled his lineup and it worked to perfection. The Phils, led by four hits from Chase Utley, snapped out of their funk and in the process snapped a six-game losing streak.

Manuel continued to tinker with Thursday’s lineup for the finale against the A’s.

It didn’t work out quite as well.

The Phils’ bats went back to sleep. They got two hits – both of them by Shane Victorino – on the way to being shut out by Rich Harden.

Now it’s on to Texas for the weekend. The good news is that the Texas park is generally considered a hitter’s paradise. Maybe that will spark the Phils’ slumbering lumber.

The bad news is that Brett Myers is on the hill for the Phils. He has been struggling, proving especially vulnerable to the long ball.

Hope they’re giving out helmets in the bleachers.