Mayberry was that guy a couple of times earlier this season and has been moving back and forth between the big leagues and triple-A quite often during his three seasons with the Phillies.
With a sensational July and an unforgettable first day of August, Mayberry showed why he deserves relief from his status as roving right-handed power bat.
Mayberry received substantial playing time in July while Shane Victorino was on the disabled list, and he batted .300 with eight doubles, three home runs, and 13 RBIs. But with Victorino back and Hunter Pence added at the trade deadline, he returned to bench duty.
His first plate appearance since Pence joined the Phillies came Monday night at Coors Field, and the classic eighth-inning battle between Mayberry and Colorado closer Huston Street was as good as it gets for a bench player.
After Carlos Ruiz kept the game alive with a two-out double, Mayberry hit for pitcher Michael Stutes. Street threw him eight straight sliders. With the count at 1-2, Mayberry laid off consecutive pitches to run the count full, then fought off two more sliders by hitting them foul.
On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Mayberry whipped his bat at a hanging slider and crushed it into the left-field seats. It was Mayberry's seventh home run of the season and the 13th of his career. None has been bigger.
"It feels great to be in that spot and to come up with the game-tying home run," Mayberry said. "As a bench guy, you normally get one at-bat and I tried to make the most of it. I was able to do that today."
Shane Victorino connected for a solo home run in the 10th inning off Rex Brothers to account for the winning run.
"It starts with Mayberry's at-bat," Victorino said. "I only got a chance to do what I did in my at-bat because Mayberry battled in that situation. Again, I give all the credit to him for coming up big in that situation and battling."
Contact staff writer Bob Brookover at bbrookover@phillynews.com or @brookob on Twitter.
