anet Evans will be back later in the week to swim her better event

The standing ovation from an appreciative crowd – both before and after the race – wasn't for the swimmer Evans is now. It was for the relentless little dynamo Evans was in 1980s (she won three gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics), and the fearless middle-aged competitor she is today.

"It was so sweet," Evans said. "Afterward was really lovely. … I was actually more nervous than ever before the race. It was very different, just swimming to swim, feeling no pressure, just to be here to enjoy it."

Body willing, Janet Evans will be back later in the week to swim her better event, the 800 freestyle. Nobody expects her to make the Olympic team. Everyone expects her to get another heartfelt ovation from an appreciative audience. 

Pence and Papelbon have arguably been the only Phillies star

After three straight soft singles to start the game against P.J. Walters (2-2), Thome smacked one to right field to drive in two runs and prompt Twins manager Ron Gardenhire to visit the mound. Walters wasn't able to get loose, the team later announced, and left with no outs and stiffness and pain in his shoulder.

Jeff Manship entered, and two batters after an RBI single by Ruiz, Mayberry cleared the bases with his three-run shot.

Hamels, Pence and Papelbon have arguably been the only Phillies stars performing up to expectations in this injury-ravaged season, and even Hamels has been off his game lately. After going 5-0 in May, Hamels has fallen into his usual June swoon. It's the worst month of his career; he's 11-16 all time. After blowing leads in each of his last two starts and allowing a total of nine runs over 12 2/3 innings, Hamels failed to retire a batter in the seventh.