Rollins keeps coming up big for the Phillies

When the bright lights come on, Jimmy Rollins turns into J-Roll.

He is the resident diva on the Phillies roster. He loves the cameras but prefers talking after he's finished showering and primping. He's got a big smile, plenty of charisma and a lot of swagger.

One more thing: He can flat-out play baseball.

Rollins put the defending champions on the verge of another trip to the World Series by lining a two-out, two-run double off Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton in the ninth inning Monday night. The hit gave the Phillies a 5-4 victory and a 3-1 edge over Los Angeles in the NL Championship Series.

The Phillies can wrap up their second straight pennant with a win in Game 5 tonight.

Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP, had a difficult season. But he's coming through in the playoffs. That's no surprise for Manager Charlie Manuel.

"Jimmy Rollins, the bigger the stage, the better he likes to play," Manuel said. "The more people watching him, he likes the mike, he likes to talk, that's the way he is."

Rollins hit .250 this year, the second-lowest average in his 10-year career. But the three-time All-Star still was a run producer out of the leadoff spot. He hit 21 homers, had 77 RBIs, scored 100 runs and stole 31 bases.

Rollins often gets criticized for not being a prototypical leadoff hitter. He swings at the first pitch, doesn't work the count and has a low on-base percentage. But Rollins makes the most of his hits.

And, Rollins is a flawless fielder who has won consecutive Gold Glove awards at shortstop.

Manuel had a good feeling when Rollins stepped in to face Broxton with Monday's game on the line. Manuel even predicted Rollins would win it.

"Jim Thome is standing over in the other dugout, and Thome looks over at me, and I motion like that, like he's going to hit one," Manuel said. "Thome was looking at me and he's shaking his head like, 'No.' With Jimmy up there, I liked that moment. I liked the guy hitting."

Rollins was just 3-for-18 in the NLCS before he lined Broxton's 99-mph fastball to the wall in right-center, giving the Phillies their fourth comeback win of the postseason.