Hoskins' key hit helps Phillies beat Dodgers
PHILADELPHIA -- Rhys Hoskins delivered a bases-clearing, two-out double in the seventh inning, lifting the Philadelphia Phillies past the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Tuesday evening.
Since losing 16 of 17 games from Aug. 26 through Sept. 11, the Dodgers (96-55) seemed to have righted the ship last week, winning four straight on the road against the Giants and Nationals. But the team with the best record in the majors has lost their last three games, including two straight against the team with the second-worst record in the majors.
To be fair, the Phillies (60-91) certainly haven't played like their record of late.
Since Aug. 18, when they bottomed out at 34 games below .500 (44-77, .364), the Phillies are a respectable 17-14 (.548), which would put them right in the NL wild- card race if extrapolated out for a whole season.
Part of that is certainly due to the bat of Hoskins, who has done nothing but impress since his call-up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley early in August.
Tuesday was yet another stellar night at the plate for the 24-year-old first baseman. Hoskins went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs, raising his average to .299 with 43 RBIs (and 18 home runs) in his first 39 career games.
Batting with one out in the seventh inning after Odubel Herrera drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 2-2, Hoskins worked a 10-pitch at-bat against Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez (3-6) before shooting a 97-mph fastball through the gap in left-center to break the game open.
That delivered a win for the Phillies and starter Aaron Nola (12-10), who was strong over seven innings. Nola gave up two runs (both earned) on five hits while striking out eight batters against two walks, throwing 64 of his 94 pitches for strikes.
In his last two starts -- both wins -- Nola has given up three earned runs in 14 innings with 19 strikeouts.
Phillies left fielder Aaron Altherr added his 18th home run of the season in the eighth inning to cap off the scoring.
With the loss, the Dodgers' magic number to clinch the National League West remains at three. That is pending the result of second-place Arizona's game at San Diego later Tuesday evening.
Dodgers starter Yu Darvish, acquired from the Texas Rangers on July 31 for a trio of prospects, received a no-decision, allowing four hits and one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven and issuing one walk.
The Phillies chased the four-time All-Star right-hander in the sixth inning when Hoskins singled home Cesar Hernandez, cutting the Dodgers' lead to 2-1.
NOTES: The start of the game was delayed 29 minutes due to rain. ... Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal's third-inning home run made him the sixth Dodger with 20 home runs this season. It's the first time in franchise history that six Dodgers have reached that mark in the same year. ... The Phillies are now 6-12 at home against the Dodgers since 2012. ... Wednesday night's game, the third in the four-game series, will pit Phillies RHP Jake Thompson (2-2, 4.46 ERA) against Dodgers LHP Alex Wood (15-3, 2.69).