What on earth is happening at Citizens Bank Park?
For the fourth consecutive day, the Phillies won in dramatic fashion. By responding to a one-run deficit in the bottom of the tenth on Wednesday, they produced both their third comeback and walk-off victories this week -- a 7-6 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers that also represents the first three-game sweep of 2012.
Simply put, this has been unlike any stretch of baseball the Fightins have played all season.
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Behind Vance Worley (5.1 IP, 10 H, 3 ER) and a stellar relief effort from Kyle Kendrick (1.2, 1, 0), the Phillies built a 5-3 lead through seven frames, with three of the home team's runs coming off the bat of Chase Utley. Charlie Manuel's decision to have Antonio Bastardo pitch to Ryan Braun with a runner on in the eighth proved disastrous however, as the National League's reigning MVP sent a 2-1 offering into the left-field seats -- his 28th of the season -- to knot the score.
Jonathan Papelbon got the Phils to extras, where defensive miscues reared their ugly head once again. Subbing for the hurting Placido Polanco, Ty Wigginton dropped a routine pop up in front of the third base bag, his 12th error of the season allowing Carlos Gomez to take second. Gomez reached home after a pair of sacrifices to give the Brew Crew a 6-5 lead, putting Michael Schwimer on the hook for a loss, but setting the table for the latest set of heroics.
With their backs against the wall, John Mayberry worked a one-out walk, and giving Carlos Ruiz the day off, Erik Kratz belted a double into the corner for his third hit of the afternoon. Chooch still managed to have his finger prints all over this one, following Kratz's AB with a pinch-hit sac fly to bring Mayberry home to tie the game. Finally, with two down, Jimmy Rollins slapped a line drive into right-center, scoring a sliding Mike Fontenot running for Kratz.
Elation. We're starting to get used to that feeling again.
It was Rollins' second walk-off hit over this four-game span, and the second blown save for Milwaukee's Francisco Rodriguez in this series -- sixth this year.
Before anybody goes overboard with effusive praise, it's worth a reminder that three of the last four are over the Brewers, who all of a sudden find themselves one of the few teams in the NL with a worse record than Philadelphia. But hey, when the club is scrapping for life, you take the W's however they come.
And as for the question we lead with -- what on earth is happening at CBP? -- the answer couldn't be more obvious. This really is a different team when all of the key players are healthy.
There is still something to look forward to here.