by Benjamin Hochman The Denver Post , The Denver Post

Entering Game 3 at Coors Field, the Phillies' all-star second baseman was just 22 for his past 122 at-bats (.180), but Utley busted his slump Sunday, the same night as did the Rockies' Atkins, the best man in Utley's wedding.

In the ninth inning, Utley came up with perhaps the team's biggest hit - sure enough, it was an excuse-me roller that hit his leg - down the first-base line, moving Jimmy Rollins to third base with just one out. Ryan Howard hit a sacrifice fly on the next at-bat to drive in the winning run.

"It might have hit me," Utley said. "My body was numb out there, but nobody said anything, so I ran hard. I've been on the wrong end of that."

Utley finished 3-for-4 with a walk in Philadelphia's 6-5 victory, while his former UCLA teammate Atkins, who hit just .226 this season, had two hits, including a monstrous double, and two RBIs.

"He always has good at-bats. He manages to get on base," teammate Raul Iba?ez said of Utley. "He's just a great player. You know it's just a matter of time before he starts hitting. And he showed that tonight."

Utley set the tone for the evening's slugfest in the first inning, drilling a 93-mph Jason Hammel heater just beyond the "MLB Go Beyond" sign on the right-center wall. The homer was just his fourth in his last 122 at-bats, dating to Sept. 1; then again, Utley did hit 31 home runs this season.

The Rockies led 3-1 in the top of the fourth when Utley came up with no outs and a runner on first. The left-handed hitter lined the first Hammel pitch into right field for his second consecutive hit. Howard followed with an RBI single, and then two straight walks scored Utley, tying the game.

In two games at the friendly confines in Philadelphia, Utley was utterly miserable, going 2-for-8 with no walks and three strikeouts. But history was on his side - for the season, Utley hit .421 against the Rockies (8-for-19) with a homer and four RBIs, contributing to his .331 lifetime average against them.

As for Utley and Atkins, the two met as wide-eyed freshmen at UCLA in 1997, when their coach made them roommates. But while Atkins struggled this season, Utley had another banner year, driving in 93 runs while hitting .282, walking 88 times and going 23-for-23 on stolen bases.

Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com

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