Those tenacious Phils
show some character

In the Batter’s Box
By Matt Godfrey

Winning games is obviously important in baseball.
Any win is a good win, any loss is a tough loss.
There are, however, different levels of each outcome.
For example, losing a game because of a bullpen implosion late in a game can demoralize a team, while winning a game on a walk-off home run can be a season-changing experience.
The way the Phillies took two out of three games over the weekend against the San Francisco Giants is what would be classified as "character wins."
A character win is exactly what it sounds like — a victory made possible by the character and grit of a team.
Friday night’s game was a perfect example.
It was in extra innings when reliever J.C. Romero, who had not given up a run all season to that point, served up a solo home run in the top of the 10th inning to none other than former Phillie Aaron Rowand.
In the bottom of the inning, the Giants took the field and sandwiched two Phillies strikeouts around a Chase Utley single.
Then character stepped up to the plate in the form of leftfielder Pat Burrell.
After working a full count against reliever Brian Wilson, Burrell belted a two-run walk-off homer into the leftfield seats.
The guys had the character to not let the Rowand homer in the top of the inning distract them from doing their job in the bottom of the inning.
Sunday’s game magnified the team’s character even more. Burrell drove in two runs in the bottom of the third inning, only to have the Giants tie it up in the top of the fourth.
The Phils added two more in the bottom of the fifth inning, only to give up two more in the top of the sixth.
The Giants went on to take the lead in the top of the eighth.
The Phils did not, however, let the pesky Giants frustrate them. Character came to the plate in the form of a slumping Carlos Ruiz, who belted a game-tying home run in the bottom of the eighth.
The Phillies went on to win that game, which gave them another series win, their sixth series win of the season, prior to the Arizona Diamondbacks series that started on Monday.
I have talked about it before, and the method is showing its merit so far this season for the Phillies.
The road to winning a division title is paved by winning series after series, not by depending on a big winning streak to get you there.
Of the 11 series the Phils have played — including a pair of two-game series — they have won six, split three, and lost only two.
While those two lost series were to the division rival New York Mets, the Phils’ consistency has them sitting atop the National League East, something they did not accomplish this early last season.
The scary thing is that they have done all of this without reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins and with a slumping Ryan Howard.
Rollins could be back as early as tonight after doing well in his first rehab assignment on Monday. (This column went to print before Tuesday night’s game, so Rollins very well may be back already.)
Howard actually has been hitting the ball pretty well over the last week. His problem is that he keeps hitting it at opposing fielders.
While his batting average is below .200, he has been doing more for the team by manufacturing runs instead of slamming his trademark long-ball.
The team, which is known for an explosive lineup, is collectively doing more of the little things to win games.
With Burrell and Utley providing the consistent offense, and the pitching staff turning in consistently strong outings, it is logical to think this team will only get better as the season goes along. ••