Phillies: Rhys Hoskins Improves in The Show Players League

Game 5: April 14, 2020, 9:16 p.m. vs. Luke Jackson — Phillies 2, Braves 1

Box Score | Game MVP: Neil Walker

Hoskins began his fifth of 29 games of the MLB The Show Players League slate opposite the Atlanta Braves’ right-handed reliever Luke Jackson.

A five-year veteran, Jackson posted career-high numbers last season, his third with the Braves. In 70 appearances, he went 9-2 with a 3.84 ERA and 106-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 72 2/3 innings. His regular season success did not translate well into the NLDS opposite the St. Louis Cardinals however, as in three appearances, he allowed a combined four runs (three earned), including two runs in the blowout, 13-1 loss during the Game 5 series decider.

Hoskins is a .333 career hitter against Jackson in real life (with a home run and four RBI), and, virtually, he went yard just the same with Bryce Harper in the bottom of the first. The home run tied the game after starting pitcher Aaron Nola allowed a RBI double to Marcell Ozuna in the top of the first, scoring Ronald Acuna Jr. who began the game with a single.

Right-handed reliever David Robertson helped shut the door in the top half of the second after Nola allowed another leadoff single, this time to Dansby Swanson. After getting Nick Markakis to pop up, former Phillies catching prospect Travis d/Arnaud reached on a Harper error in right, but Swanson was called out trying to advance to third. Pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers singled, but Robertson struck out Acuna Jr. swinging early at an outside slider to end the inning unscathed.

Braves reliever Will Smith entered; Jean Segura lined out to Ozzie Albies for the first out, but Jay Bruce, a hero across Hoskins’ first four slate of games, walked as the next batter. Scott Kingery struck out chasing a curveball low and in for the second out, but pinch-hitter Neil Walker ended up coming up clutch, doubling in the right-center field gap to score Bruce.

Seranthony Dominguez notched his first save of The Show Players League in the top of the third. After walking Albies, he got Freedie Freeman to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Then, he got Ozuna to strike out chasing a slider low and away for the final out.

Smith (0-2) was credited with the losing decision, while Robertson (1-0) earned the win for the Phillies. Hoskins needed just three hits, and clutch RBIs from Harper (home run) and Walker (RBI double) to come away with the 2-1 win. His The Show Players League record improved to 3-2 following the win.

Game 6: April 14, 2020, 9:38 p.m. vs. Ryne Stanek — Phillies 2, Marlins 0

Box Score | Game MVP: Nick Williams

Game 6 for Hoskins and the Phillies (3-2) would go up against Miami Marlins right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek (0-4).

Stanek began hi career with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2017-2019, in which he went 2-5 with a 3.55 ERA across 121 games and 56 starts. Last July, he was dealt mid-state to the Marlins, along with minor-leaguer Jesus Sanchez, for Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards. Stanek finished the year going 0-2 in a Marlins uniform with a 5.48 ERA through 22 appearances. In total in 2019, he went 0-4 with a 3.97 ERA.

Both 0-4 in real life and 0-4 in The Show Players League entering his game against Hoskins, Stanek likewise struggled to come away with a win.

In the top of the first, Hoskins and the Phillies threatened after Bryce Harper doubled to the wall on a full count with two outs (he would double for a second time in the top of the third). Batting as himself, Hoskins laced an infield hit to put runners on the corners, however Didi Gregorius flied out to deep left for the final out.

Phillies starter Zach Eflin tossed a scoreless first on 19 pitches, albeit two baserunners getting on with two outs: a hit-by-pitch of former Phillies outfielder Corey Dickerson , and a bloop single by Garrett Cooper just under the glove of the diving Jay Bruce in left.

The next half-inning, eighth-hitter Scott Kingery walked. Entered Nick Williams as the pinch-hitter … and the move proved to be the perfect one for Hoskins, as the July 2015 trade acquisition in the Cole Hamels trade drilled a two-run home run to left-center field.

The runs would be the only ones of the game. Victor Arano threw a 1-2-3 second inning in relief of Eflin. After allowing a leadoff single to Jesus Aguilar in the third, Hoskins opted for Hector Neris to try to record the save. Stanek would end up getting two more bloop singles later one, however one of them resulted in Harper throwing out a runner trying to come home for the second out. With runners on the corners, two outs, Neris struck out Cooper swinging low and away.

Eflin (1-0) earned the win, Stanek playing as himself the loss (0-1), and Neris the save. Hoskins’ The Show record improved to 4-2.

Game 7: April 14, 2020, 10:20 p.m. vs. Ty Buttrey — Phillies 4, Angels 1

Box Score | Game MVP: Bryce Harper

Hoskins’ seventh of 29 The Show Players League regular season games would be against Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Ty Buttrey. A two-year veteran, Buttrey went 6-7 with a 3.98 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 72 appearances and 72 1/3 innings last season.

Carrying momentum from two straight wins on the night, Hoskins wasted no time in his third game, as Andrew McCutchen hit a leadoff home run to left field.

The next half-inning opposite Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, Tommy La Stella likewise reached to begin the frame, albeit it being a single. Wheeler then struck out Mike Trout high and inside, and, two batters later, got Justin Upton to ground out to maintain the 1-0 lead.

A common theme of the game so far was the first batter of the inning reaching, and that continued for Hoskins and the Phillies in the top of the second, as Didi Gregorius homered to increase the lead to 2-0.

Entering in relief in the bottom of the second, southpaw Adam Morgan struck out Brian Goodwin, but then allowed an opposite-field, solo home run to right to Andrelton Simmons. Later in the frame, with David Robertson entering and two runners on with two outs, La Stella line out to center to preserve the Phillies’ lead at one.

Hoskins began the top of the third by having J.T. Realmuto doubling to deep center. Bryce Harper came through again, homering for the second time of the night for Hoskins to give the Phillies a comfortable, 4-1 advantage.

Robertson stayed in the game, and, despite allowing a base runner, he kept the Angels off the board and struck out Upton for the final out and save.

Wheeler (1-0) earned the win, while Griffin Canning (0-1) was tagged with the loss. Hoskins improved to 3-0 on the night and 5-2 overall in the The Show Players League standings.

Game 8: April 14, 2020, 10:49 p.m. vs. Joey Gallo — Phillies 2, Rangers 5

Box Score | Game MVP: Willie Calhoun

While Hoskins had plenty of momentum entering his final game of the night, he would face an opponent that had even more in Joey Gallo, who came from behind down 6-0 to win on a walk-off, three-run home run.

In real life, Gallo, a five-year veteran is coming off of his first All-Star season in which he slashed .253/.389/.598 with 15 doubles, 22 home runs and 49 RBI across just 70 games.

As it would turn out, Gallo would out-score and out-hit Hoskins, 5-2 and 7-3 respectively.

Game Scoring Plays:

• Top of the 1st, 2 outs, 1 runner on: Willie Calhoun two-run home run, 2-0 Rangers
• Top of the 3rd, 0 out, 0 on: Joey Gallo solo home run, 3-0 Rangers
• Top of the 3rd, 0 out, 2 on: Roughned Odor sacrifice fly RBI, 4-0 Rangers
• Top of the 3rd, 1 out, 1 on: Todd Frazier sacrifice fly RBI, 5-0 Rangers
• Bottom of the 3rd, 2 out, 1 on: J.T. Realmuto two-run home run, 5-2 Rangers

Lance Lynn (1-0) earned the win, while starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (1-1) was tagged with his first loss.