Phillies beat Cubs as Gomez escapes jam

When Jeanmar Gomez trotted Tuesday night from the bullpen to the Citizens Bank Park mound, the most difficult of save situations awaited him. The Cubs, winners of 40 of their first 56 games, loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning. The heart of Chicago's lineup was due up. Gomez not only had to preserve a two-run lead, he had to record six outs to seal a 3-2 Phillies win.

Pete Mackanin handed Gomez the ball. The Phillies manager retreated to the dugout and noticed a difference in the tranquil Venezuelan closer. Gomez has operated with blissful ignorance of how absurd his rise is from nondescript middle reliever to shutdown closer. Now, the pitcher wiped sweat from his forehead.

"He looked a little nervous," Mackanin said.

"No no, not really," Gomez said. "I just was focused."

The way Gomez willed his team to victory will be remembered as one of the season's more satisfying moments for these rebuilding Phillies. They stole a game from the potent Cubs, thanks to the closer who was never supposed to be closer. Gomez now has 19 saves, tied for the best in baseball.

The 19th was akin to a miracle.

"That was just a little loss for the Cubs," Mackanin said, "but it was a huge morale booster for us."

Jerad Eickhoff dominated for seven innings. Ryan Howard homered for the first time in 27 days. Gomez recorded the Phillies' third six-out save in the last seven seasons.

It ended with the tying run on third. Gomez threw 25 of the highest-stress pitches possible.

"You can't ask anybody to do more than that," Mackanin said. "He did a hell of a job."

Next month, Gomez just might be an all-star. He said he was not aware he led the majors in saves. He does not think about numbers. He does not bother with the typical closer persona. He does not even think of himself as a closer.

"I try to be ready for any role," Gomez said. "When they give me the opportunity to throw, I will try to do my job."

After Hector Neris loaded the bases - a Cesar Hernandez throwing error exacerbated matters - Mackanin decided to gamble with Gomez. The closer's entrance music, a religious ballad in Spanish, played on the ballpark speakers.

"We talk about a closer mentality, he'd be the last guy I would think would have that kind of mentality," Mackanin said. "However, he's proven us that he's got that kind of talent. He's been really good executing his pitches."

The sinkerballer fired 94-mph fastballs. Dexter Fowler reached a full count before he skied one to left. That plated the Cubs' second run, but it kept the double play intact as Jason Heyward walked to the plate.

When Mackanin removed Neris, he made a double switch. Andres Blanco replaced Hernandez at second. Heyward chopped a Gomez slider to Blanco's right. He slid, stabbed the ball, and flipped it to Freddy Galvis at the bag. Galvis' throw completed the double play by a half step.

The Phillies dugout erupted.

"Insane," lefthander Adam Morgan said.

"A team like the Cubs over there, that's a championship-caliber team," Howard said. "To be in a tight game, and have guys staying calm and making plays, I think it speaks volumes for a team like this that's young and that's still growing and still learning."

Gomez, a middle reliever who logged multiple-inning appearances in his previous life, had not thrown more than an inning this season. In the ninth, with runners on the corners after an exceptional defensive play by Peter Bourjos, Cubs catcher David Ross tapped a 93-mph sinker to shortstop for the final out.

Gomez did not celebrate. He went to shake catcher Carlos Ruiz's hand. He looked to the sky and thanked God for his defense. The most improbable of saves was complete.

"That," Gomez said, "was intense."

mgelb@philly.com

@MattGelb