WATCH: Jimmy Rollins Gets Standing Ovation in Return to Citizens Bank Park

Jimmy Rollins acknowledges the crowd before his at bat during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Last December, the Phillies began their dismantling of the core that brought them five straight division titles, two pennants and a World Series when they traded Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers. Rollins later said he was now “free” at his new team.

Last night, the Dodgers visited Philadelphia for the first time since the trade, and Rollins was penciled in to the leadoff spot against his former team. The crowd responded by giving him a standing ovation before the first at-bat of the game. Players from the Phillies dugout (and on the field) similarly cheered him.

“It was cool,” Rollins told reporters postgame. “And it went longer than I thought. It was a great moment.”

Rollins is having the worst season of his career in his new “free” home. But just before his return trip to Philadelphia, he got going a little. Rollins had hit safely in 9 of 10 games coming in to last night, and went 2-for-5 with a double in his return.

But it was Maikel Franco, who has been tearing it up since his May 15th call-up, who had the play of the game last night. With the score tied at 1 in the bottom of the 7th, Franco ripped a grand slam to left field to give the Phillies a four-run lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

New Phillies closer Ken Giles came in for a four-out save in the 8th and struck out Jimmy Rollins with two men on to preserve the victory. The Phillies eventually won, 6-2. They have the worst record in baseball, but are 13-3 since the All-Star break.

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