Oct. 30, 2008

PHILADELPHIA -- Former USC baseball player Geoff Jenkins became the 14th Trojan in history to be a member of a World Series championship team Wednesday after the Philadelphia Phillies won Game 5 over the Tampa Bay Rays, taking the series four games to one.

Jenkins proved to be a catalyst in Game 5 after rain halted the game in the bottom of the sixth on Monday. After play resumed on Wednesday, Jenkins came up as a pinch hitter as the first batter and promptly doubled to lead off the inning. He later scored to break the 2-2 tie as the Phillies would go on to win, 4-3, as Philadelphia won its first World Series since 1980.

As a member of the USC program from 1993-95, Jenkins had a career .369 average with 45 home runs and 175 RBI. The two-time All-American from Rancho Cordova, Calif., saved his best for last in 1995, batting .399 (103-for-258) with 23 home runs and 78 RBI and led USC to the College World Series. USC made its first CWS appearance since 1978 that season as the Trojans would fall to Cal State Fullerton in the title game. He also is the third player under former head coach Mike Gillespie (Anthony Reyes and Randy Flores for St. Louis in 2006) to be part of a World Series championship team.

As a first-round selection in 1995 by the Milwaukee Brewers, Jenkins made his major league debut in 1998 and played 10 seasons for the Brewers before signing as a free agent this season with the Phillies.