This. Is. Fun.
It’s time for a daily news report.
More on this later, but Rhys Hoskins did something few Phillies have done in the last few years: make my heart jump with anticipation. And boy did he deliver. A bases-clearing double in the seventh inning beat the Dodgers, 6-2, on Tuesday night. This awesome at bat came after a ridiculously fun Odubel Herrera four-pitch walk, and after the Phils squandered a bases-loaded rally in the sixth (thanks Maikel Franco …) [Editor’s note: Wrong! Franco popped out for the first out in that seventh; an Aaron Altherr double-play ball erased the sixth-inning threat.].
Anyway, my goodness. This is great. So great.
Aaron Nola got the good-luck win, going seven strong and giving up two runs. He struck out eight and walked two. Luis Garcia got out of trouble (thanks, awesome Matrix style Freddy Galvis double play turn), and Hector Neris finished it off. Aaron Altherr knocked his 18th home run (please play a full season next year).
Great. So great. The Phils apparently waited until mid-September against the Dodgers to play the best games of the year.
Damon Miller Jr. lived up to his promise. After tweeting last week that he’d buy everyone at Citizens Bank Park chicken nuggets if Rhys Hoskins hit a home run (which of course happened), Miller was at the park Tuesday night, giving out free chicken nuggets to fans.
Miller said McDonald’s helped him own up. Whatever the case, it’s awesome, and Miller is a really cool fan.
Pitcher Tom Eshelman and second baseman Scott Kingery were awarded Tuesday in Philadelphia with the Paul Owens awards, given annually to highest-performing hitter and pitcher in the Phils’ farm system.
Of course, both are in triple-A, which begs the question WHEN ARE THEY COMING TO PHILADELPHIA?
Matt Breen writes about that. Nobody’s sure yet what’s going to happen, and a lot will depend on what the Phils do in the offseason (move an infielder or two, make any pitching moves …). But my guess is both will be in Philly by next trade deadline, at the latest. That’s me playing it really safe.