That equation, which has defined Dobbs' two seasons in Philadelphia, was underlined about 30 minutes before last night's 7-4 victory, when Pat Burrell was scratched because of a stiff neck and Dobbs inserted in his place. Thirty minutes after that, Dobbs came to bat with the bases loaded and did what he has done routinely in his time here, and particularly this season. He delivered the big hit, knocking in important runs.
His soft liner into right ignited a four-run first inning, continuing the obscene run production by this team this week and allowing Kyle Kendrick the operating room he had grown accustomed to during his starts last season. It also continued an equally obscene run of success by Phillies role players this season, a big reason why they have kept their head above water amid injuries to key players like Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino, and the well-chronicled early struggles of Ryan Howard.
Jason Werth was tremendous in Victorino's absence. Eric Bruntlett, after a rocky start, put together a career-high 10-game hitting streak while Rollins nursed his ankle back to health.
Platooning for the first time in his career, Geoff Jenkins has nursed his average over .280 with a strong May. A platoon player these days, Chris Coste is hitting a lusty .341. Even So Taguchi, last year's MLB pinch-hit leader but mired in an early slump, had three hits in Monday's 20-run outburst.
The Phillies lead major league pinch-hitting in average (.281), home runs (4), runs batted in (16). Dobbs leads the majors with 11 of those RBI and 12 pinch-hits, but Coste, Chris Snelling and Pedro Feliz have had moments, too.
Dobbs, who now is hitting .366, was in the middle of everything in the second inning as well, stroking a single to centerfield as the Phillies pushed their lead to 7-0. T.J. Bohn replaced him to start the eighth and threw out Seth Smith trying to score from second on Todd Helton's single.
