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Rollins returns in fine form as Phillies down Giants

May 10, 2008 - 7:04 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - For Jimmy Rollins, not even a 19-game absence could beat a return to the Bay Area.

Rollins hit a home run and drove in three Friday, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 7-4 win over the San Francisco Giants.

The reigning National League MVP had been sidelined since April 19 due to a sprained left ankle. But after grounding out in his first two at-bats, he reminded his teammates the kind of energy he can provide, finishing just a triple short of the cycle in his return.

"I was hoping I would get another chance," Rollins said. "But it was fun, I got three hits in my last three at-bats. If I had known I was going to have three at-bats like that, maybe I would have tried to figure things out a little bit earlier, but it takes time."

Without Rollins, the Phillies went 13-6.

"They (the Phillies) played well (without him), but that's what they're supposed to do," Rollins said. "That's being a professional (team), making adjustments. Last year, we had to do it a couple of times, and with me going down, it's not any different.

"We know how to win and, of course, you always have to make an adjustment when somebody is out of the lineup and try to figure things out and that's what they did. But now we're back to full strength so everybody can go back to falling back in position and let the machine go to work."

Rollins - who was activated from the disabled list prior to the game - keyed the Phillies' comeback from a 4-1 deficit in the fifth inning with a two-out, two-run shot to left field off Giants starter Patrick Misch.

"He had a good night," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's been down in Florida working out ... playing. He's strong and had a lot of rest. I think we're going to play better and going to get the (National League) East. We've got a good league and, when we're healthy, we definitely can hold our own and we have a good chance."

Philadelphia knotted the game at 4-4 with a run in the sixth before it took the lead for good with a three-run eighth against Tyler Walker (1-1). Rollins capped the rally with an RBI double.

Cole Hamels (4-3) did not overpower the Giants but managed to pick up the win, allowing four runs and six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in seven frames.

"Games aren't going to be easy and no team is going to be easy no matter what their record is," Hamels said. "And so, you just have to always battle, and that was definitely something I did and, to come away with the victory, is more enjoyable than anything."

Tom Gordon worked around a pair of walks in the eighth before handing it over to closer Brad Lidge, who struck out the side in the ninth for his ninth save in as many chances.

Rookie Emmanuel Burriss had three hits and two RBI for the Giants, who have dropped five straight contests.

"It is frustrating," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We have lost some tough games and here we are in another tight ballgame. We all want to win. This was another tough tight ballgame that we let slip away from us. We faced a good pitcher and swung the bat well. We got some runs but we just couldn't hold up."