Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Werth the price of admission

Better watch your wallet around Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth.

All he did last night was steal four bases – including a steal of home – while stealing a win for the Phils in the process.

Werth actually stole four bases to tie a team record set by somebody named Sheery Magee on two different times in 1906, and Garry Maddox on May 29, 1978.

You have to think if Rich Ashburn were still alive, he would have remarked to his pal, the late Harry Kalas, that Werth looked “runnerish”
last night.

Werth stole third base in the fourth inning.

Then in the seventh, Werth, who was on third, broke for home as Dodgers catcher Russell Martin casually took his time in tossing the ball back to reliver Ronald Belisario. Werth’s swipe gave the Phils a 5-2 lead.

His steal of home came after he took both second and third after a single, the cycle of stealing, as it were.

Almost as much fun as watching Werth pilfer all these bases was the sight of Dodgers coach – and former Phillies manager – Larry Bowa doing a not-so-slow burn over the lackadaisical attitude displayed by L.A.

The Phils held on for a 5-3 win to stay a game back of the Dodgers.

One other note in the Phils win. No, that was not Jimmy Rollins in the leadoff spot.

Charlie Manuel shuffled his lineup and dropped Rollins down to the fifth spot. Manuel indicated it had as much to do with the Dodgers’ bullpen matchups as it did with the slump Rollins has been mired in to start the year. Rollins did single in a run.

No word from Manuel if Rollins will return to the leadoff spot tonight.
Rollins wasn’t talking after the game. But before the contest he made it clear he considers himself No. 1 spot hitter.

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