David J. Phillip / AP

Rays' second baseman Akinori Iwamura dives for a ball. Tampa beat the Phillies, 4-2, in Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday.

Back from two seasons derailed by injuries and mitochondrial disorder, a condition that slows muscle recovery and causes extreme fatigue, Baldelli also was involved on a confusing call in the second that helped Tampa Bay make it 3-0.

He checked his swing on a full-count pitch and plate umpire Kerwin Danley immediately raised his right arm as if to call strike three. But then Danley pointed to first base for an appeal, and umpire Fieldin Culbreth signaled safe.

“It was his intention to go to first base for help on a half-swing that he had as ball four,” said Mike Port, Major League Baseball’s vice president for umpiring. “He just gave a confusing mechanic. But he had called it a ball, and it was ruled no half-swing anyway. So it was just that particular mechanic that caused confusion.”

Myers and several Phillies infielders were puzzled, along with Manuel, who took a few steps out of the dugout but didn’t argue long.

“I thought he called the guy out,” Manuel said.

Port said the umpires would not be available for comment.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Upton hit an RBI single to right. Werth made a strong throw to cut down Baldelli, who crashed into Ruiz but couldn’t dislodge the ball.

Before the next inning started, Baldelli rested on one knee in right field.

In the fourth, Bartlett, the No. 9 hitter, drove in Cliff Floyd with a safety squeeze — one pitch after fouling off a suicide squeeze attempt. Rays fans clanged their cowbells, just as they were instructed on the scoreboard in a campy “public service announcement” before the game.

Demoted to the minors in July, Myers was in trouble from the start. He issued a leadoff walk to Akinori Iwamura in the first before Upton sliced an opposite-field single to right. Werth booted the ball for a key error that gave both runners an extra base, and Upton clapped his hands after sliding into second.

Carlos Pena drove in a run with a groundout and the Phillies kept their infield back for Longoria, who made it 2-0 with another grounder.

Shields gave up leadoff doubles in the second and third, but escaped both times.

Notes: Werth made two errors all season. ... Philadelphia’s 0-for-19 skid with runners in scoring position was the second-longest drought to start a World Series since the 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers finished 0-for-22 against Baltimore, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

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