Utley had missed 28 games. The Phillies went 15-13 without him, but they're certainly glad to have him back. They entered last night having lost six of their previous eight games and need to pull out of their nosedive immediately to have a chance to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
Utley hit a solo home run to left-center field in the fifth to hand the Phillies a 4-2 lead.
"Tonight was one night," Utley said. "You never know what can happen. You can find a hole here or there. The main thing is to contribute to the team. It turned out pretty well. It felt good. It definitely was good to be out there."
"I knew that when he started to swing the bat that he would hit a lot," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He doesn't try to overdo it. Where he hit the ball on the homer and double tonight, he hit the ball to the left of center field. If you look where the balls were at, he just went right with it. He hit the ball where it was pitched."
But Utley wasn't the only star.
Jayson Werth went 4 for 4 with a walk after he went 5 for 5 Sunday. He needs a hit in his first at-bat tonight to tie a National League record with hits in 10 consecutive at-bats. The record is held by 10 players, including Ed Delahanty, who accomplished the feat for the Phillies in 1897.
Teammates have had some fun with Werth and Shane Victorino, who typically is in right field.
Somebody taped "P. Rose" over Werth's name at his locker.
Somebody taped "W. Pipp" over Victorino's name.
"I'm just playing the day out as it goes on," Werth said. "I'm still living life."
Werth said he was not aware of the record. He said he didn't want to know.
We can't forget about J.D. Durbin, either. He entered last night with a 1.29 ERA in three road starts and an 8.62 ERA in three home starts.
