Phillies score six in 8th to beat Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6

They wanted to dash from their seats - from the stands at Citizens Bank Park, at home watching on TV, or inside the Phillies dugout - to greet Carlos Ruiz. It was only the eighth inning Tuesday, and the Phillies were still three outs from another stunning comeback victory, but now they expected to win.

Jimmy Rollins couldn't resist. He hurried up the steps, locked arms with Ruiz, and the catcher was pounded by his teammates as he descended. They believe again, after a 7-6 victory courtesy of the hapless Milwaukee bullpen, marking three consecutive dramatic wins.

"We're just proving it," Cliff Lee said. "We never lost faith."

The narrative of this charmless season has reached a critical point. The team's superstar pitcher is negotiating one of the largest contracts ever offered. Six days remain until the trade deadline, and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is tasked with the unenviable decision of whether to sell or buy.

"I'm a buying guy," manager Charlie Manuel said, offering a suggestion for his boss.

Long deficits still face these Phillies in both the divisional and wild-card races. Many of the good vibes have come via a beleaguered Brewers bullpen, which has allowed 10 runs on seven hits and seven walks in 32/3 innings over the first two games of this series.

There is optimism that with a full roster at its disposal, this team could play to its expected potential. There may not be enough time.

For now, the Phillies will enjoy this ride punctuated by a six-run eighth on Tuesday. Much of the crowd stood for the inning, when the Phils drew three two-out walks to load the bases. Ruiz mashed a double to the gap that cleared the bases. Hunter Pence deposited the ball in short right field, scoring Ruiz for the Phillies' first lead of the night.

No one sat when Jonathan Papelbon made quick work of Milwaukee with a 10-pitch ninth inning. This season's loudest chants of "Let's Go Phillies!" serenaded the players.

"We still have time to make it happen," Ruiz said.

The rally Tuesday atoned for a clunker by Lee, who was crushed for four home runs and six runs in seven innings. After the fourth bomb, Manuel emerged from the Phillies dugout, and a smattering of boos greeted Lee on his sprint that would take him anywhere but the mound at Citizens Bank Park.

Lee, the Phillies' highest-paid player, is making $24 million in 2012. His ERA is 3.95 through 17 starts.

Three of the home runs were on the first pitch, bringing more credence to the idea that he sometimes can be quite predictable with his pitch selection. The Brewers stabbed him with 12 hits in seven innings.

Zack Greinke, pitching for the first time in 11 days and with a gaggle of scouts watching every move, all but ensured his exit to a contending team. He dazzled for seven innings and retired the final 14 batters he faced.

One of the Brewers' monster shots came on a Greinke swing. Twelve home runs have been hit by pitchers in the majors this season. Four of them have come against the Phillies.

"Three of them were on the first pitch, and I want to throw first-pitch strikes," Lee said. "Obviously, the location has to be a little better. But I'm not expecting the pitcher to hit one, that's for sure."

Once Greinke exited, the eighth-inning rally began in earnest when Ty Wigginton singled and third-string catcher Erik Kratz swatted a pinch-hit home run to left to cut the deficit to three.

"You get a huge jump when Kratz hits that homer first pitch," Pence said. "There was a long lull with the double switch, and then first pitch - Pow! - and everyone is just awake."

Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard drew walks before Ruiz's decisive hit ignited a frenzy in South Philadelphia.

"You never know," Lee said.

There is so much work to do. But maybe, just maybe, a few more people will awake Wednesday believing.