Rollins: Second standing ovation ‘not expected'

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Stepping into the batter's box for the first time Wednesday, Jimmy Rollins received a standing ovation — his second in as many nights — from the fans at Citizens Bank Park.

This one, however, Rollins didn't see coming.

"That was not expected tonight," he said. "I was trying to hurry up and get in the box, but the fans didn't let me rush my way in so I was like, 'Oh jeez, I'm going to hear about this one.'"

Rollins returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday for the first time since the Phillies traded him to the Dodgers last winter and the fans continued to greet him as if he never left.

He spent his first 15 years and 2,090 games as a Phillie and has left a permanent mark in team history. J-Roll remains the franchise leader in hits (2,306) and doubles (479). He also stole 453 bases, hit 216 home runs and had 887 RBIs. He's third in franchise history with 1,325 runs scored and 111 triples.

And on Wednesday, Rollins got his first taste of victory as a visitor at CBP, as the Dodgers topped the Phils, 4-3 (see game recap).

“I didn’t even think of it that way,” he said. “I know we played them earlier in the year out in Los Angeles and we beat them there, so I wasn’t even considering it being the first win here but that’s our job, to go out and win baseball games.”

Rollins was 0 for 3 with two walks in the second game of a three-game set after going 2 for 5 in his first game back in Philly.

In the seventh inning, Rollins was greeted with a two-out, bases-loaded situation. However, a mental error by Yasiel Puig led to Carlos Ruiz tagging Puig out to end the inning.

“It was obviously not the right time to go,” Rollins said. “I saw the ball pass and hit the umpire, so I immediately put my hand up telling him no, but those things happen.”

The Phillies and Dodgers close out their series Thursday afternoon, and regardless of the outcome Wednesday night, Rollins made sure to take everything in.

“It was definitely awesome,” he said. “That’s the word: awesome.”

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