Aug. 13 -- SUNDAY NIGHT LEFTOVERS

Ryan Howard broke a 1-for-11 funk with a clutch three-run homer in the fifth inning. Antonio Alfonseca struck out two batters with the tying run on third base in the seventh and celebrated by wind-milling his arms, kicking his legs and looking a little bit like Elaine from "Seinfield." Jamie Moyer settled after allowing two first-inning runs to win his fourth straight decision and the 227th game in his never-ending career.

But the biggest play in last night's 5-3 Phillies win is pictured here.

With the Phils trailing 2-1 in the fifth, Tadahito Iguchi rolled a grounder to second baseman Martin Prado, who flipped to rookie shortstop Yunel Escobar. It was a sure-fire double play. But Escobar never touched second base, and the hustling Iguchi beat the throw to first. Usually, the runner at second would be called out anyway. It's known as the "in-the-neighborhood" play. Yes, Escobar missed the bag, but he was close enough. Not for second-base umpire Brian Runge, though. Runge ruled Jimmy Rollins safe at second. Braves manager Bobby Cox, tied with John McGraw for the most ejections in baseball history (131), put up a mild argument, not nearly enough to get booted.

Two batters later, Howard hit what turned out to be the game-winning homer.

"I was surprised he called him safe," Charlie Manuel said, "but I was happy about it."

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Rollins scored three runs, bringing his NL-leading total to 100. It marks the fourth straight season in which Rollins has topped the 100-run mark. No player in baseball has scored more runs in the past four seasons than Rollins' 461.

I don't have stats to back this up, but it seems like Rollins turns up his game another notch when the spotlight is greatest. Last night's game, for instance, was on national TV. Howard smirked when the idea was presented to him and didn't deny that Rollins likes the extra attention. "That's how you want him," Howard said. "I'll grab a front-row seat for it. I'll even be the cameraman if he wants me to.

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Bad night for third-base coach Steve Smith, who got Pat Burrell and Jayson Werth thrown out at the plate. Manuel said right fielder Jeff Francoeur's air-mailed throw in the seventh inning shows why Smith was aggressive earlier in the game . But, to me, Smith takes too many gambles, especially with slow-footed runners like Howard and Burrell. Check out Ginger Wall's photo gallery from the game, which shows the plays at the plate.

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In case you missed it Saturday (I did), first-round pick Joe Savery took his first pro loss for short-season Williamsport, allowing three runs on four hits in 2-2/3 innings at Oneonta. I wonder if he at least got to go to the Hall of Fame in nearby Cooperstown. It's a place everyone should see.

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Chase Utley has an appointment today with hand specialist Dr. Randall Culp. I'll post an update once it's available. Also, after watching Alfonseca, J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon and Brett Myers mow down the final eight Braves hitters last night, I'll chime in later today on the resurgence of the Phillies' bullpen, which has a 1.67 ERA in the last nine games.