Categories: 2022 Highlights

Rhys Hoskins records first multi-HR game for Phillies in postseason since Chase Utley

Rhys Hoskins is the first Phillies hitter since Chase Utley to record a multi-HR game in the postseason. Cheryl Pursell)

The Phillies and Padres are in the midst of a wild showdown of the bullpen — and bats — here in Game 4 of the NLCS.

The playoffs have been a rollercoaster for one Phillies starter. Rhys Hoskins has been rightfully criticized for two critical misplays at first base in both the Division and Championship Series.

He’s also come up with the biggest hits of the postseason. His first came against Spencer Strider in Game 3 of the NLDS.

He came up big twice on Saturday night and it should absolutely not be understated that Hoskins’ two home runs came against the two Padres pitchers that were San Diego’s best hope for “bulk innings” — Mike Clevinger and Sean Manaea.

Clevinger threw him a dead center fastball that quickly left the yard to cut the Phillies’ initial four-run deficit down to two.

Credit Kyle Schwarber for working out a walk ahead of Hoskins to setup a nightmare matchup for San Diego. With a 1-1 count, Hoskins crushed a low sinker into the seats in left center field to tie the game at 6-6 in the fifth inning. The Phillies went on to score two more on a beautifully executed hit-and-run from J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper as well as a single from Nick Castellanos against former rebuild Phillies reliever turned flamethrower Luis Garcia.

As Paul Casella of MLB.com noted, Hoskins is the first Phillies player to record a multi-HR game in the postseason since Chase Utley in Game 5 of the 2009 World Series.

The list of Phillies to accomplish this feat include Utley and Jayson Werth (twice), Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Lenny Dykstra.