Another 40,873 “front-runners” packed into Citizens Bank Park last night to see Jimmy Rollins break out of his slump.
Rollins, the reigning National League MVP, has been in the fans’ crosshairs since referring to them as “front-runners” on a national TV show while the team was on the West Coast.
Rollins has not exactly been lighting it up this year – on the field or off. He’s been benched two different times, once for failing to run out a pop fly, and once for arriving at the stadium late for an early game in New York.
Rollins’ play has not exactly been at MVP standards this year either. First, he suffered an ankle injury that put him on the shelf at the start of the year. He has struggled offensively most of the year.
He was in a 4-for-48 funk heading into last night’s finale against the Dodgers.
So all J-Roll did was splash three hits – a single, double and triple – all over the park in leading the Phils to a sweep of the Dodgers.
He was helped in no small part by another Phil who has had his troubles this year. That would be starter Brett Myers, who continues to sparkle in his comeback after a stint in the minors to work the kinks out of his pitching.
Myers got the win, allowing the Dodgers nine hits over seven innings, but not allowing a single runner to cross home plate. Two relievers sealed the shutout.
The Phils remain a half-game out since the Mets shelled the Astros.
And who should appear at Citizens Bank Park tonight? That would be those hated New Yorkers. At stake is a quick two-game series that marks the Gothams final visit to Philly this year. The Phils still have to bid adieu to Shea Stadium, which will be torn down after the season, later in September.
Oh, someone else also will show up at the Park the next two nights. Somewhere in excess of 45,000 “front-runners” will pack the place, going to jowl-to-jowl with any New York fans that make the trip south and hoping the locals can recapture first place in the NL East.
They will be screaming their lungs out for the Phillies. That includes Rollins.
J-Roll might be turning things around just in time. He usually tortures the Mets. Tonight would be a good time to let his bat and glove continue to do the talking.
Rollins, the reigning National League MVP, has been in the fans’ crosshairs since referring to them as “front-runners” on a national TV show while the team was on the West Coast.
Rollins has not exactly been lighting it up this year – on the field or off. He’s been benched two different times, once for failing to run out a pop fly, and once for arriving at the stadium late for an early game in New York.
Rollins’ play has not exactly been at MVP standards this year either. First, he suffered an ankle injury that put him on the shelf at the start of the year. He has struggled offensively most of the year.
He was in a 4-for-48 funk heading into last night’s finale against the Dodgers.
So all J-Roll did was splash three hits – a single, double and triple – all over the park in leading the Phils to a sweep of the Dodgers.
He was helped in no small part by another Phil who has had his troubles this year. That would be starter Brett Myers, who continues to sparkle in his comeback after a stint in the minors to work the kinks out of his pitching.
Myers got the win, allowing the Dodgers nine hits over seven innings, but not allowing a single runner to cross home plate. Two relievers sealed the shutout.
The Phils remain a half-game out since the Mets shelled the Astros.
And who should appear at Citizens Bank Park tonight? That would be those hated New Yorkers. At stake is a quick two-game series that marks the Gothams final visit to Philly this year. The Phils still have to bid adieu to Shea Stadium, which will be torn down after the season, later in September.
Oh, someone else also will show up at the Park the next two nights. Somewhere in excess of 45,000 “front-runners” will pack the place, going to jowl-to-jowl with any New York fans that make the trip south and hoping the locals can recapture first place in the NL East.
They will be screaming their lungs out for the Phillies. That includes Rollins.
J-Roll might be turning things around just in time. He usually tortures the Mets. Tonight would be a good time to let his bat and glove continue to do the talking.
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