There was a very good sign for the Phillies Sunday.

The Phils were clinging to a 3-2 lead on the strength of a Carlos Ruiz double in the seventh.

In the ninth, a familiar figure strolled in from the bullpen.

That would be Brad Lidge, the man who rolled out the perfect season last year in leading the Phils to a World Series, and who has been anything but so far this year.

Go ahead. Admit it. You felt a familiar knot in your stomach when Lidge took the hill.

But the inconsistent closer looked very much like the ’08 edition, slamming the door on the Braves in a 1-2-3 ninth. He recorded the final out with a strikeout on a nasty slider that looked very much like the pitch that bedeviled hitters last summer.

That’s two straight good performances from Lidge.

It just might be the most important thing to happen to the Phils as they get ready for their September push.