It looks like this Rhys Hoskins guy is for real.
The 26-year-old smashed a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Phillies a 4-2 lead over the Nationals. Philadelphia would hold that lead and grab its second straight win and fifth in its last six games.
.@rhyshoskins!!!!
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 4, 2019
The @Phillies take the lead on his 3-run 🚀! #MLBNShowcase pic.twitter.com/wiVu41DZ5X
The team now has a 2 1/2-game lead on the Mets for first place in the National League East and is starting to look every bit of the class in the division. Hoskins is a huge part of that.
A fifth-round pick in 2014, Hoskins went 2 for 3 with that home run and three RBIs on Friday and now has 10 home runs on the season.
The home runs are impressive, but the amount of games in which he accumulated them is truly notable.
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Hoskins hit his 10th home run in his 31st game of the season on Friday. He is the fastest player to 10 home runs in a Phillies uniform Chase Utley accomplished the feat in 30 in 2009 and Raul Ibanez did it in 31 in the same year.
Rhys Hoskins is the fastest #Phillies player to 10 homers (31 games) since 2009 when Chase Utley hit his 10th homer in his 30th game and Raul Ibanez hit No. 10 in Game 31.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) May 4, 2019
The emerging superstar is batting .288 with a .415 on-base percentage on the season and is a big part of why the Phillies are amongst the top 10 in multiple offensive categories as a team.
After a bit of a sophomore slump in 2018 in which he batted .246, Hoskins has both maintained his power and increased his OBP and batting average this season. And while the Phillies added Bryce Harper to be the cornerstone of this franchise for the next 13 years, the team actually may have already had one, and consequently, now possesses two.
Studs of the Night
Kyle Hendricks was the definition of efficient in the Cubs' 4-0 win over the Cardinals. He tossed a complete-game shutout while throwing just 81 pitches.
Athletics catcher Josh Phegley had a career night in a 14-1 win over the Pirates. He had his first ever four-hit game, his second two-homer game (2014) and eight RBIs to go with it.
Rays starter Tyler Glasnow tossed seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits, no walks and striking out eight in a 7-0 win over the Orioles.
Royals right fielder Jorge Soler went 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, but Kansas City lost to the Tigers 4-3.
Reds second baseman Derek Dietrich went 3 for 4 with two home runs and six RBIs in Cincinnati's 12-11 loss to the Giants.
Gary Sanchez went 3 for 4 with two home runs in the Yankees' 6-3 win over the Twins.
Dud of the Night
White Sox outfielder Leury Garcia went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in Chicago's 6-1 loss to the Red Sox.
Highlight
The Indians defeated the Mariners 2-1 by virtue of a Tyler Naquin walk-off single.
Press play, AND TURN IT UP! ▶️⬆#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/bGhswHFQtm
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) May 4, 2019
What's Next
Diamondbacks (19-13) at Rockies (15-18), 8:10 p.m. ET — The Rockies have cooled off a bit after winning 10 of 12 toward the end of May. They have lost four of their last six games including a 10-9 loss to Arizona on Friday. But they have Kyle Freeland (2-4, 4.81 ERA) on the mound and with his track record in his career at home (17-11, 3.19 ERA), Colorado will be looking to get back to its winning ways. Luke Weaver (2-1, 3.73) will pitch for the D-Backs.