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MINNEAPOLISWhen youve been around as long as Jim Thome22 seasonsyou can make history with almost every swing.
Thomes three-run home run, coupled with Joe Blantons complete game, helped the Phillies beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-1, on Thursday night (see Instant Replay).
Desperate for wins as they sputter along in last place in the National League East, the Phils took two of three from the Twins and have won consecutive games for the first time this month.
In all Thomes years in the game, hed never driven in nine runs in a three-game series. He did in this one. And the feat was special for a few reasons: 1) He played the previous two seasons in Minnesota and had become a fan favorite; 2) The performance came just a few weeks after his career seemed to be in question as he went to the disabled list with a back injury; and 3) The Phillies needed it in a big way.
To do that, it means a lot, for sure, Thome said of the nine-RBI series. You go out and try to have solid at-bats. Our guys are getting on base. It's a lot of fun. To come out the last two days and win these ballgames and hopefully build a little momentum, it's big.
A little over a week ago, Thome was in Florida rehabbing a back injury and trying to find his swing after starting the season 2 for 20 with 11 strikeouts.
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Some wondered if the 41-year-old was done.
The 41-year-old did not.
Never, he said. Baseball is a weird game. Youre going to go through bad times. The bottom line is getting at-bats like this is big. Getting four or five at-bats a game allows you to makes adjustments over the course of a game and thats big.
Going to Florida on minor-league injury rehab was big because it allowed me to see pitches and Im definitely seeing the ball well.
Thome got those at-bats in Florida with the idea of coming back and being the Phillies designated hitter in the current nine-game interleague stretch. Six games into the stretch, he is batting .458 (11 for 24) with two doubles, three homers and 13 RBIs. He has given the Phils something they havent had all seasona legitimate cleanup man.
He's gotten some big hits for us, manager Charlie Manuel said. That just goes to show you how he can help you. Jimmy is a very positive guy. He gets excited about the game. He's one of those guys who guys in the lineup like to hit with. It means a whole lot. Actually, that's what Chase Utley and Ryan Howard bring to our team, too.
Utley and Howard, of course, have yet to see action this season because of injuries.
Four of Thomes nine RBIs in the series came Wednesday night. He is the oldest player to ever drive in four runs in a game for the Phils.
Thursday nights home run was the 607th of his career and 99th as a Phillie. One more and hell become just the fourth player to hit at least 100 homers with three different clubs, joining Alex Rodriguez, Reggie Jackson and Darrell Evans.
Who knows, that next home run might come during the next three days in Toronto. Those will be the final three games in which the Phillies will use a designated hitter this season. After that, Thome will be relegated to pinch-hitting duties because his chronically bad back prevents him from playing the field.
Whether Thome can be more successful as a pinch-hitter than he was in the first month of the season remains to be seen. For now, hes just happy to be playing.
Thome wasnt the only happy player in the Phillies clubhouse after Thursday nights win.
Blanton, who had allowed at least five earned runs in his previous five starts, delivered a walk-free complete game. He allowed seven hits and struck out seven.
Blanton came into the game carrying a 9.91 ERA in his previous five starts. No wonder Manuel said he was pleasantly surprised by Blantons outing.
I finally made some pitches with my fastball, Blanton said.
Blanton, who owns two of the Phils three complete games this season, changed speeds well.
When he locates his fastball his secondary stuff plays up bigger, Manuel said.
Blanton missed his spot with a man on base in the sixth inning and the Phils up, 4-1. Justin Morneau crushed one to deep center, but it stayed in the yard.
Sometimes you hang one like that and it goes into the second deck and sometimes you get lucky, Blanton said. Ill take it.
And so will the last-place Phillies, who have won two in a row, but are still desperate for wins.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com