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Rollins helps Phillies rally past Padres in 12 innings

SAN DIEGO - On paper, the moment will fall victim to the limitations of black-and-white numbers and black-and-white words. But for those who actually witnessed Jimmy Rollins rounding third, who watched him approach home plate deader than a 12-point buck, who watched Yorvit Torrealba catch and turn for what should have been the latest in a long line of brutal developments, there can be no mistaking the magnitude of what happened next.

The Phillies' Jimmy Rollins scores as Padres catcher Yorvit Torrealba misses the tag. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The Phillies' Jimmy Rollins scores as Padres catcher Yorvit Torrealba misses the tag. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Read more

SAN DIEGO - On paper, the moment will fall victim to the limitations of black-and-white numbers and black-and-white words. But for those who actually witnessed Jimmy Rollins rounding third, who watched him approach home plate deader than a 12-point buck, who watched Yorvit Torrealba catch and turn for what should have been the latest in a long line of brutal developments, there can be no mistaking the magnitude of what happened next.

Rollins dropped into a slide, twisted his body to his right, and raised his hand, slapping home plate as he sailed past it, Torrealba's glove reaching in vain for something that wasn't there.

Safe, the umpire ruled. Win, the Phillies did.

And just when you thought all hope was gone, the Phillies held on for a 3-2 win in 12 innings to trim their deficit behind the Braves to two games.

Rollins' mad dash home from second and masterful slide on a no-out single to center by Placido Polanco in the top of the 12th snapped the Phillies' four-game losing streak and salvaged a game that appeared lost in the bottom of the ninth.

Despite their inability to score more than three runs for the fifth straight game, the Phillies avoided a matching losing streak thanks to eight strong innings from Roy Oswalt and timely hits from Polanco and Raul Ibanez. They overcame Brad Lidge's fifth blown save, which squandered a 2-1 lead they had taken on Ibanez' go-ahead single in the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, Charlie Manuel elected to hit for Oswalt, who had thrown 102 pitches while holding the Padres to one run on five hits and no walks in eight innings.

Lidge was riding a stretch of 10 straight scoreless outings that included seven saves, but this one unfolded in excruciating fashion: first a leadoff single to Matt Stairs, then a two-out intentional walk to Adrian Gonzalez, then an 0-2 pitch that hit Ryan Ludwick to load the bases.

Then, on a 2-2 count to Chase Headley, who would later ground out to end the inning, Lidge was called for a balk that pushed the tying run home.

Padres starter Mat Latos limited the Phillies to one run on five hits and two walks, striking out six in seven innings before turning the game over to what had been one of the National League's stingiest bullpens. Oswalt was even better, allowing one run on five hits and no walks while striking out six in eight innings.

Two of the hardest-hit balls of the night resulted in outs: With the scored tied at 1-1 in the fourth, Will Venable plucked a Jayson Werth smash high above the leftfield wall to rob him of a home run. In the seventh, Werth exacted some revenge, taking off on a dead sprint and chasing down what appeared to be a sure-fire extra-base hit by Gonzalez to the alley in right-centerfield.

In the eighth, the Phillies loaded the bases against righthander Mike Adams to set up Ibanez' RBI single that gave them a 2-1 lead, but they didn't take complete advantage: With one out and a chance to add a crucial insurance run, Shane Victorino hit a ground ball to first base that resulted in a throw home for the force. Carlos Ruiz then struck out to end the inning.

It could have proved costly. Thanks to Rollins, not to mention two scoreless innings from Chad Durbin, it didn't. Rollins led off the 12th with a double off the wall in rightfield, then scored on Polanco's single up the middle.

The Phillies improved to 71-57 and picked up ground on the Braves, who earlier in the night lost for the fourth straight game.