Phillies: Rhys Hoskins Splits The Show Players League Opener
By Matt Rappa
Game 1: April 11, 2020, 9:05 p.m. vs. Jon Duplantier — Phillies 1, Diamondbacks 2
Hoskins began his MLB The Show Players League slate opposite Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Jon Duplantier.
Duplantier, 25, went 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA, 34-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 1.555 WHIP across 15 appearances (three starts) last season as a rookie. His 1.555 WHIP improved to 1.000 in the virtual setting opposite Hoskins, allowing just one hit — a solo home run to Didi Gregorius — spanning three innings.
Madison Bumgarner notched the win, while Aaron Nola suffered the loss, allowing two runs (both unearned) on two hits and one strikeout. The Hoskins-controlled Phillies entered the bottom of the second up 1-0, but things began to unravel when Nola allowed the leadoff batter to reach first on a throwing error. The next batter, Kole Calhoun, bunted to Nola for a single, putting two runners on. Then, Nick Ahmed hit a grounder that deflected off Nola for a single, loading the bases with nobody out.
Seranthony Dominguez entered and allowed a sacrifice fly RBI to Stephen Vogt, which turned into a double play. The next batter Carson Kelly doubled, giving Duplantier and the Diamondbacks the would-be winning run.
Gregorius’ solo home run would be Hoskins and the Phillies’ only hit in the MLB The Show Players League opener.