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Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins came through last night, and the Phillies won, and the same cause-and-effect relationship that had existed for the previous four wins lifted the team to another one, this time 4-3 over the Reds.

Federer knocks off Nadal

MADRID (AP) — Roger Federer beat top-ranked Rafael Nadal in a final for the first time in two years Sunday to claim the Madrid Open title 6-4, 6-4.

Second-ranked Federer broke a sluggish Nadal once in both sets before firing his sixth ace of the match to claim his 15th Masters Series title on the second match point. Federer also won here in 2006 when the event was played on indoor hard court.

It was only Federer's second victory over his top rival on clay with the other coming at the Hamburg final two years ago. The victory also ended Federer's five-match losing run to Nadal, a streak in which he lost at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Australia.

"He was simply better than me," Nadal said.

Ibanez hits 3 homers as Phillies take 2 from Nats

WASHINGTON (AP)—Playing two after a 12-inning game the night before, the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals both needed some solid starting pitching.

The Phillies got it in both games, with an assist from a thunderstorm that shortened the second one. The Nationals didn’t come close either time and got swept.

Raul Ibanez(notes) hit three long home runs, and the Phillies again battered the National League’s worst pitching staff Saturday in 8-5 and 7-5 victories in a day-night doubleheader. Brett Myers(notes) cranked out seven innings in the afternoon, and emergency callup Andrew Carpenter(notes) pitched into the fifth in his first major league start in a nightcap called in the sixth due to rain.
“That second game, that’s what you call a good break,” said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, citing the thin bullpen from the 10-6 extra-inning win on Friday night. “We’ll take it. That’s part of the game. It definitely helped us.”

Philadelphia also got a scoreless-inning save in Game 1 from closer Brad Lidge(notes), who had allowed at least one run in each of his six previous outings. Meanwhile, things got worse for the Nationals: Game 1 starter Scott Olsen(notes) is headed to the disabled list with a shoulder injury, and Game 2 starter Daniel Cabrera(notes) dropped to 0-5 with another miserable performance.

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Three Phillies think pink on Mother's Day Rollins, Victorino, Feliz wield special bats for breast cancer

PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins broke out more than just the pink bats Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

He broke out the pink shoes.

Major League Baseball celebrated Mother's Day on Sunday, with the Phillies using pink bats in the series-finale 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Pedro Feliz used his pink bat to score Ryan Howard from second base with a one-out single to left-center field in the second inning to tie the game at 1.Pink bats have become annual Mother's Day symbols as part of an overall "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative by Major League Baseball that raises awareness about breast cancer and directs proceeds to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Fans play the next role in this process, because attention will move now to the MLB.com Auction and the gradual arrival of game-used pink bats, home plates and logo bases and lineup cards. Fans also can purchase their own personalized "Mother's Day 2009" pink bats right now for $79.99 at the MLB.com Shop, with $10 from the sale of each one going to Komen.

Greener Grass

A look at baseball as both a bridge and a political barrier between Cuba...

Thrillbillies

When in Doubt, Gas It!
Season 1 : Ep. 6|22:05|
Episode 6 features fun with Crum’s broken truck, BMXer Fuzzy hall, snowmobiles on a lake, and the last Chicken-cross track race.