Hoskins, Harper combine for 3 home runs in Phillies victory over Reds

The Philadelphia Phillies (71-65) came out swinging in a Labor Day matinee against the Cincinnati Reds (64-74), taking the first of four by a final of 7-1.

Last night’s hero – Scott Kingery – picked up right where he left off. In the top of the second inning, Kingery scorched a slider inside to right center field for his 16th home run of the season, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead:

The Reds would get on the board in the bottom half of the inning with a home run from their rookie star Aristides Aquino. In the home half of the second, Aquino blasted a lazy cutter to the second-deck in left for a solo home run. With that home run, Aquino broke the record for the fastest ever to hit 15 home runs in the majors. He needed just 122 plate appearances to reach that mark. The previous record of 133 plate appearances was held by Rhys Hoskins:

Speaking of Hoskins, he responded an inning later with a home run of his own. He worked a 3-2 count with Brad Miller on first and was rewarded with a dead-center fastball that he crushed to center field for the Phillies second two-run home run of the day:

From there, the Phillies offense went cold up until the eighth. Bryce Harper extended his hit streak to 10 with a two-run home run of his own. Harper and Hoskins would go back-to-back to really put this game out of hand:

Former Red Jared Hughes, Ranger Suarez and new Phillies call-up Nick Vincent would combine to get the last 11 outs to ensure a Phillies victory. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday night for the second of four. Vince Velasquez will get the ball for the Phillies, while Alex Wood will get the nod for the Reds.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

• Drew Smyly: 5.1 IP, 4H, 1ER, 3BB, 8SO

It looked like Smyly was on the verge of reinventing himself in his first two starts with the Phillies through the use of a refreshed pitching repertoire. He was using his cutter more, thereby making his curveball and fastball much more effective than they were earlier in the year. He struggled mightily in August, but he rebounded in a big way today in part due to his cutter finally working again.

• Anthony DeSclafani: 7 IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 8SO

The New Jersey native was on his game today. He gave up only three hits, but two of those were two-run home runs. He ended the game striking out his last four hitters and retiring the last 13 Phillies hitters. His team was just unable to support him.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Rhys Hoskins

There’s nothing like a two-run home run game to cure a slump. Hoskins now has nine hits in his last six games and looks ready to lead the charge toward an NL Wild Card spot. Today was also his first multi-home run game since April 8 against Washington:

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Tuesday at 6:40 vs. Reds at Great American Ballpark
• NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Sportsradio 94 WIP; WTTM 1680 (Spanish)

More from Phillies Nation 

1. Joey Votto, In Philly For The Weekend, Has A Interesting Hall Of Fame Case
2. Seranthony Dominguez To Be Re-Examined, Still Doesn’t Expect To Have Tommy John Surgery
3. What Would A Long-Term Deal For J.T. Realmuto Look Like? 
4. Reading Clinches Playoff Berth Behind Spencer Howard
5. Phillies 2019 Players Present A Wide Variety Of Walk-Up Songs
6. The Phillies Future In Center Field Is Murky
7. Bohm, Howard Among Six Phillies Prospects Bound For Fall League
8. Harper: It Would Be ‘An Absolute Joke’ If J.T. Realmuto Doesn’t Win Gold Glove
9. Mike Scioscia Reportedly Would Have Interest In Managing Phillies
10. Votto: Halladay Told Me He Wanted To Kill Me For Stepping Out Of Box During Postseason No-Hitter