Jimmy Rollins couldn't speak for his teammates. Not all of them, anyway. But there was one moment, one at-bat, Thursday night when he felt the weight of an offense slumping at the worst time.
It was the seventh inning, no outs, a runner on first base, with the Phillies trailing by four runs in Game 2 of the World Series. And Rollins struck out.
"It was a missed opportunity," he said. "No doubt about it."
Rollins wasn't alone. The Phillies missed multiple opportunities to take a commanding lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. They went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, leaving them 1-for-28 in the series, and lost 4-2 at Tropicana Field. In the two games, they have stranded 22 runners.
And although the Phillies said they accomplished their goal of winning at least one game in St. Petersburg, it's only by the grace of Cole Hamels' left arm that they aren't heading home in a 2-0 hole.
In Game 1, they set an unwanted World Series record by finishing 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Over the two games, their only hit in that situation came when speedy Shane Victorino legged out an infield single, beating it out by a step.
"We've done this before, unfortunately," Rollins said. "But, fortunately, we've done this before, so we know how to get out of it."
Rollins was referring to the 10-week offensive swoon that nearly cost the Phillies a playoff spot. From mid-June until early September, the offense faltered, and the Phillies fell behind the New York Mets in the National League East standings.
For four consecutive innings in Game 2, the Phillies' leadoff hitters reached base against James Shields. But they didn't score until pinch-hitting Eric Bruntlett swatted a solo home run in the eighth against hard-throwing rookie left-hander David Price.
The second inning began with Ryan Howard's double and a Pat Burrell walk. But Victorino popped weakly to third base before Greg Dobbs struck out looking and Pedro Feliz lined to center field. Carlos Ruiz led off the third inning with a double but was stranded when Jimmy Rollins grounded to second, Jayson Werth struck out and Chase Utley grounded to second.
In the fourth, previously slumping Howard laced a leadoff single, and Victorino legged out a one-out infield single, putting runners on the corners. But Dobbs struck out and Feliz grounded to third base.
And with the bases loaded in the fifth, Werth committed a base-running gaffe, leading to a rally-killing double play.
Could the offensive swoon that dominated the summer really be happening again -- in the World Series?
"I'm concerned about us hitting with guys on base because it looks like at times we might be trying a little too hard," manager Charlie Manuel said. "But we can fix that."
RAYS 4, PHILLIES 2: Eric Bruntlett hit his first postseason home run in the eighth inning, a pinch-hit solo shot. But the Phillies were unable to recover from an early deficit at Tropicana Field, and the World Series will head to Philadelphia in a 1-1 tie.
Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Carlos Ruiz had two hits apiece for the Phillies. Brett Myers allowed two first-inning runs, and four runs in seven innings overall, and was charged with the loss.
