The ex-Pirates struck last night. And they struck at the right time.

It was a thrilling 11-inning win for the Phillies who got a big victory thanks to a walk-off solo home run by Sean Rodriguez.

Pittsburgh looked like they were on their way to a win after the Pirates chased Jason Vargas in the seventh. The Phillies’ starter gave up four runs off seven hits with four strikeouts in six innings. The bottom half of the eighth saw Logan Morrison and Rhys Hoskins strike out before new dad Bryce Harper hit a homer the next at-bat. J.T. Realmuto got a single off before Corey Dickerson hit a two-run shot of his own to give the Phils the lead.

Hector Neris needed just three outs to complete the save. I told my Pittsburgh guy “watch that he blows this lead.”

He blew the lead on a Josh Bell homer. Would ya look at that.

The teams went into extras and it wasn’t until Sean Rodriguez of all people in the 11th hit a walk-off that just cleared the left field wall to win the game.

It was another big win for the Phils in terms of their wild card chances. They’re just a game-back of the idle Cubs, who begin a three-game set with the Mets tonight. As for the Phils, Drew Smyly takes the mound tonight against Steven Brault. First pitch is at 7:05 PM on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

In other team news, Maikel Franco celebrated his birthday yesterday by being sent back down to Lehigh Valley. A lovely birthday present.

And be sure to listen to the latest episode of Crossed Up Radio from yesterday afternoon.

The Roundup:

With barely any Eagles news that people care about this week, the Birds’ offensive line will be featured in ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue.

As for their Week 1 opponent, Washington named Case Keenum their starting quarterback. He, like most of us, remembers the last time he was at the Linc.

Not only did Bryce Harper and Co. have a baby this weekend, so did Claude Giroux and his wife.

The Flyers and the Sixers’ brand new ridiculous scoreboard is being installed this week.

In other sports news, an ex-Penn State team doctor alleges Nittany Lions football head coach James Franklin made him clear injured players.

Patriots center David Andrews has blood clots in his lungs and could potentially miss the entire season.

In Fox on Fox crime, Troy Aikman trashed Doug Gottlieb on his Andrew Luck take.

Former Comcast Sportsnet anchor Neil Hartman is the new director of Rowan’s Center for Sports Communication & Social Impact.

In the news, a MetroPCS employee shot and killed a would-be robber in Southwest Philadelphia.

Brazil is going to reject the G-7’s $22 million aid package pledged to fighting the Amazon rain forest fires