PITTSBURGH - Brad Lidge has 9 blown saves - three more than any other pitcher in baseball.

Brad Lidge's ERA is 7.33 - the worst among major league reliever with enough innings to qualify for an ERA title.

Brad Lidge has served up 10 home runs - only Chicago's Kevin Gregg, with 12, has allowed more.

Gregg was jettisoned as Chicago's closer last week, as the Cubs continued to fade from the playoff picture. Lidge? He's not going anywhere.

Following a stomach-turning, 6-4 loss at PNC Park in Pittsburgh Tuesday night, Brad Lidge looked as beat up as he has since joining the Phillies two falls ago. Approaching him felt like walking up to a guy after he just had to put his pet dog down.

Charlie Manuel, however, knows his role as a manager. He walked over and lent a word to Lidge.

“Stay in there,” Manuel said.

The manager later told the media he was "sticking with him" despite possible, legitimate replacements in setup man Ryan Madson and former closer Brett Myers, who is rehabbing in Reading Wednesday.

“We just keep going. We just keep playing,” Manuel said. “That’s where we’re at. That’s our closer. I’ve said it all along, that’s the guy we give the ball to in the ninth inning.”