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.