Phillies extend winning streak to 4 with 9-5 win over Nats

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered and drove in three runs, Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to four games with a 9-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

“Rhys is a constant,” Philadelphia manager Joe Girardi said.

Philadelphia is 55-53 and two games over .500 for the first time since July 18, when it was 47-45. The Phillies are 1½ games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets.

The Phillies erased an early 3-0 deficit and set up a chance for a four-game sweep on Thursday afternoon.

“I don’t think there was much of a change in the dugout,” Hoskins said. "It’s the third inning. We’ve seemed to be able to score a lot early and score a lot late throughout the season.

“We, as a group, didn’t miss pitches in the middle of the plate the next time through.”

Nationals reliever Jefry Rodriguez hit Hoskins with an up-and-in pitch in the top of the seventh. Hoskins motioned to the Phillies’ dugout, then looked at Rodriguez before going to first base. Gregorius hit a 412-foot home run on the next pitch. Hoskins began yelling at Rodriguez before the ball cleared the fence, prompting Rodriguez to yell back.

Philadelphia used four doubles to build a four-run fourth inning and take a 4-3 lead. Andrew Knapp, Travis Jankowski, Jean Segura, and Hoskins all doubled in the inning. Bryce Harper drove in a run with a single.

Hoskins hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his 24th of the season.

Luis García and Carter Kieboom hit back-to-back homers against Philadelphia starter Chase Anderson in the second, giving Washington an early three-run lead.

Victor Robles’ first career leadoff homer came on Anderson’s first pitch Wednesday night. The homer was...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Phillies-extend-winning-streak-to-4-with-9-5-win-16365176.php