Phillies: Rhys Hoskins Improves in The Show Players League

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

Box Score | Game MVP: Bryce Harper

Ty Buttrey #31 of the Los Angeles Angels (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

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

Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

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.