If the Phillies are going to make a move in the National League East standings, the time is now.
They beat the New York Mets, 6-2, at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday night. The victory marked just the second time the Phils have won two in a row this season. They walked-off the Mets in the first game of the series on Friday night.
Having earned their first series win of the 60-game season, the Phils, 7-9, will go for a sweep on Sunday afternoon.
The Phils were well-positioned to do some damage after Friday night's win because they had their two best pitchers scheduled to go the next two days. Zack Wheeler gets the ball against his former club Sunday afternoon. Aaron Nola showed him the way with seven shutout innings Saturday night.
"To win the game in the fashion we did (Friday night) created a little bit of momentum and we're always confident when No. 27 is on the mound," hitting star Rhys Hoskins said after the win. "We're pretty confident with Wheeler going (Sunday). He's thrown the ball well. Hopefully we can get a sweep before we go on the road."
The Phils are off Monday before playing two at Boston, two in Buffalo against Toronto, three at Atlanta and three at Washington.
The Phillies got an early home run from Jean Segura then blew the game open with five runs in the fifth against Mets starter Steven Matz. Hoskins highlighted the rally with a booming, three-run double to the gap in right-center.
Nola's night
The right-hander scattered three hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out eight.
Over his last three starts, against the Yankees, Braves and Mets, Nola has pitched 21 innings, allowed eight hits, two runs and three walks. He has 30 strikeouts over that span.
After a rough finish last season, Nola is back to his 2018 form with three pitches working.
He is the first Phillie since the current mound distance was established in 1893 to allow three or fewer hits and strike out eight or more batters in three straight starts. Not too shabby.
The Hoskins factor
Perhaps the most positive development of the night for the Phillies was the swing Hoskins put on a first-pitch fastball from Matz in the fifth inning. The pitch was on the outer part of the plate. Hoskins, looking to be aggressive with the bases loaded, jumped on the pitch with a beautiful swing — head down and through the ball. He didn't try to yank it to the pull side. The result was a hard-hit, bases-clearing double to right-center.
Hoskins had entered the game hitting .200 (9 for 45) with three doubles, no homers and just one RBI. It was the type of swing and result that a player can build on.
"I sure hope so," manager Joe Girardi said. "But his at-bats have been good and he continues to get on base, just sometimes not always by the hit. He's worked really hard every day and today it paid off big. That was a big inning for us and it was great to see him get that big hit.
"It was a pitch on the outside corner and he drove it the other way. It's so important to use all fields in today's game. Guys are so strong, they can hit it out to any part of the park. You don't need to lock into one way of hitting. Just take what they give you."
Needless to say, Hoskins was pleased with the swing and the result.
"It was free and easy and I was on time and got the barrel to the ball," he said. "Any time you barrel a ball it feels good. I've done a lot of work trying to back the baseball up and trusting my eyes — be in attack mode and let the eyes say yes or no."
Back in there
Scott Kingery returned to the starting lineup after sitting out three games. He started in center field for the first time this season.
Kingery entered the game in the throes of a 4-for-40 slump that essentially cost him the regular second base job. He went hitless in three at-bats.
Kingery appeared to be working on some adjustments, specifically using the middle of the field more, with hitting coach Joe Dillon during batting practice. Dillon appeared to be shooting video of Kingery on his phone.
Kingery talked about his tough start and change in role here.
Health check
The Phillies remain unworried about Spencer Howard, who left Friday night's start as a precaution when he started to develop a blister on his middle finger. Girardi said he expected Howard to make a start in the coming week.
Up next
Wheeler (2-0, 2.89) will oppose his former team for the first time in Sunday afternoon's series finale. Rick Porcello (1-2, 5.68) will pitch for the Mets.
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