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It was just a few days ago that everyone wondered what the Phillies would do with Jim Thome now that there were no more opportunities for him to be a designated hitter.
Trading him to an American League club was offered as a solution.
Hows this for another potential solution: Keep him and let him be the power bat off the bench that he was signed to be in November. Keep him and let him be the late-game power bat that he was Saturday.
Thome, the 41-year-old, surefire future Hall of Famer, electrified the early evening around South Philadelphia on Saturday when he came off the bench in the bottom of the ninth inning and smashed a no-doubt-about-it home run into the leftfield seats to give the Phillies a 7-6 walkoff win over the Tampa Bay Rays (see Instant Replay).
It was the Phils second walkoff win in three games. They are 3-1 so far on this important 10-game homestand and have moved out of last place - by a half-game over Miami -- in the NL East.
Thomes home run came moments after Jonathan Papelbonpreviously 17 for 17 in save chances as a Phillielet a two-run lead get away in the top of the ninth inning for his first blown save of the season.
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The first couple of months of the season we havent been catching many breaks, Papelbon said. Lately guys have been picking each other up. Maybe thats what we needed to get rolling again. This was a huge pickup by Jim Thome. I couldnt be happier for anyone else in this clubhouse.
Papelbons blown save and Thomes game-winning home run came with a great story. In the dugout after blowing the lead in the top of the ninth, Papelbon announced: Five-grand to anyone who walks this guy off. After the game, Papelbon said he wrote Thome a check for 5,000 (see story). Thome laughed and said the transaction never took place, but replays of the home-plate celebration clearly showed a jubilant Thome look at an equally jubilant Papelbon and say, I want that check!
That felt great, Thome said of his home run. It was a big win for us. Hopefully we can build on it.
Thomes home run wasnt the only important long ball that the Phillies hit. Jimmy Rollins started the Phils comeback from three runs down with a two-run homer in the third inning and Juan Pierre capped a two-out rally in the fourth with a three-run homerhis first homer of the season and just the 17th of his career. Both homers came off Tampa Bay starter James Shields.
Its got to be the first time one guy hit his six-hundred and something homer and another guy hit his 17th, Pierre said with a laugh.
Thomes home run came on a full-count fastball from lefty Jake McGee. Rays manager Joe Maddon said the pitch was 96 mph. Phils manager Charlie Manuel said it was 98. The stadium radar gun said it was 97. Whatever. It was pure heat and Thome turned it around. It was his first pinch-hit of the season after going hitless in his first 12 pinch-hitting assignments.
Everyone was thinking it: Come on, Jimbo, walk it off," Pierre said. When he hit it there was just excitement. You wouldnt want another guy to do it. He was waiting the whole game and he came through.
Thomes homer had plenty of historical significance. It was his 13th walkoff game-winner, a major-league record. He had been tied with Jimmie Fox, Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, Frank Robinson and Babe Ruth, Hall of Famers all, at 12.
The home run was the 609th of Thomes career, tying him for seventh all-time with Sammy Sosa. It gave Manuel, Thomes long-time mentor, his 900th big-league managerial win.
With all hes done for me, thats very special, Thome said. Its something youll never forget.
Thome now has five home runs in the Phillies last 12 games. Four of them came in his time as a DH in American League parks during interleague play. He has clearly benefited from regular at-bats. Of course, that leads to the big question: How can the Phillies keep Thome sharp so he can continue to contribute as a pinch-hitter? And if Thome cant be an effective pinch-hitter, would they consider trading him to an AL club, where he could be a DH? The preferred route for all is to make it work in Philadelphia. That means Thome will have to take a lot of extra batting practice, stand in against pitchers during bullpen sessions, and hit off a pitching machine with the speed set to pure heat.
Hes going to have to hit and hit a lot and hit something with speed, Manuel said.
Thome hit something with plenty of speed Saturday.
I guess that shows he can still hit em, Manuel said. He caught up to that 98.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com