Rollins ends postseason funk at just the right time

Still in uniform, Jimmy Rollins got to his locker in the Phillies' clubhouse, put his bats away, and picked up his phone.

"I guess it was a good night - 30 messages," Rollins said.

One connection with a 95-m.p.h. fastball, the ball landing high on the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field, clearing the loaded bases - Citizens Bank Park again was chanting "J-Roll!"

Coming into Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, Rollins had one single to show for 15 postseason at-bats. In Game 1, he had some of the more-significant misses of the night, going hitless with three strikeouts.

"I've been the same for the last 10 years," Rollins said after his four RBIs in the 6-1, Game 2 NLCS victory over San Francisco, talking about how his self-confidence never left the building. "You figure out things. You solve problems. Sometimes there's going to be confusion. But once you lose the confidence, you're not going to have a chance to play at this level. God gave me this talent. I'm going to do something with it. That's just the way it is."

Sunday night, pitcher Roy Oswalt singled with a bat borrowed from Rollins.

"The BAT still has hits," Rollins told himself.

Right after Game 1, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had said how he was "very concerned about him hitting . . . We need to try to get him hitting." After Game 2, Rollins did his best spot-on impression of his manager, saying: "That's part of it."

Rollins then translated: "You're the guy that he chose, and until you run yourself into the ground, he's going to keep pushing you out there. As a player you say, 'You know what, I have a chance today. I didn't do anything, but tomorrow I know I'm going to be out there, and I have a chance tomorrow.' "

If the bases-clearing double was a big hit, an earlier Rollins at-bat had given the Phillies their first lead in a game this series, after the shortstop worked a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez, who found himself behind before he even gave up a hit.

Manuel said before the game that he had considered moving Rollins up from the sixth spot in the order to his more-customary leadoff position - just to shake up a lethargic Phillies offense. Then the Phillies' manager changed his mind as he analyzed the numbers.

"When I looked, I liked him right where he was at, because I look at how he's been doing and also the fact that how we lined up against Sanchez," Manuel said.

"Victorino's got some hits on Sanchez," the Phillies' manager added. "I think he's like 5 for 16 or something. Jimmy's 1 for 16. . . . I like Jimmy down there where he's at right now.''

Manuel had talked about how he'd seen Rollins in offensive funks many times before. He'd seen Rollins come out of them, too.

Rollins said he'd heard the place chant his name before, too.

"All you can do is smile," he said.

Rollins also knows that the postseason is a long haul to success. Even after a four-RBI night, he won't judge himself yet.

"Sometimes you just put a good swing on a ball, find some gap, and everything looks like it's fantastic," Rollins said. "And for that time, it is."

Contact staff writer Mike Jensen at 215-854-4489 or mjensen@phillynews.com.