Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Bruised hand lands Hoskins on bench
PHILADELPHIA >> Hit by a pitch in the right hand during the Phillies’ ninth-inning rally to victory Thursday, Rhys Hoskins was out of the lineup Friday.
Though x-rays proved negative, Hoskins was available only to pinch-hit against the San Diego Padres. The Phillies expect him to be available and start Saturday night.
“It was just a contusion,” Hoskins said. “I hit today. It was fine. There were no restrictions. I threw. I think he just wanted to give it another day to be safe.”
Hoskins, who had been hitting leadoff, was struck by a pitch from the Cubs’ Pedro Strop. That loaded the bases for two-hole hitter Bryce Harper, who launched a grand slam off lefty reliever Derek Holland to give the Phillies a 7-5 victory.
According to Gabe Kapler, Hoskins felt a little “tender” Friday,
“There was a little bit of bruising and swelling but nothing too crazy,” Hoskins said. “I will just go through the normal treatment stuff and I imagine that I’ll be back in the lineup tomorrow.”
Roman Quinn replaced Hoskins at the top of the lineup Friday. Logan Morrison filled in at first base, hitting sixth.
“As soon as Rhys is ready to be back in the lineup, he’ll be back in there,” Kapler said. “We assume that will be tomorrow.”
If so, Hoskins would not resist returning to the leadoff spot, from where he had scored a total of three runs in two starts.
“I’m hoping so,” he said. “It seems to work for the team. We strung some good atbats together the last couple games. But I don’t make that decision.”
Hoskins was thankful the injury wasn’t more severe.
“I woke up thinking it was going to be a lot worse than it was,” he said. “There has been good progress.”
••• On the injured list since June 7 with an elbow injury, Seranthony Dominguez has set a loose timetable for a return.
After throwing a bullpen session Friday, the righthanded reliever said he likely would be available sometime between Sept. 12 and Sept. 20.
“I’m in the second part of my comeback but I think it is going to take more time,” he said. “I am just starting in the bullpen, then will need a simulated game, then get into live-game action.”
Dominguez threw nothing but fastballs in his Friday workout.
“When you are coming back from injury,” he said, “that’s what you want to test.”
According to Kapler, Dominguez’ bullpen workout, “went well. It was nice and easy.” The manager said that Dominguez returning this season is, “a strong possibility.”
••• Not that the Phillies were ready to share the results, but Jake Arrieta had an MRI on his right elbow Friday.
The report will be sent to Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a noted Los Angeles elbow specialist, who will help outline a plan for Arrieta’s recovery from a bone spur. Surgery is likely.
Arrieta was placed on the injured list Aug. 14 and replaced in the starting rotation by Zach Eflin.
••• In his first 35 games this season, Derek Holland had allowed one extra-base hit to a left-handed hitter. In his 36th, that number doubled when Harper hit his walkoff grand slam.
“Opposing teams bring in their best lefties to face Bryce, and obviously I understand why,” Kapler said. “But Bryce said it at the beginning of the year: ‘I feel comfortable against left-handed pitching.’ I don’t think that was any sort of hyping himself up psychologically. I think he genuinely does feel that way.”
Entering the game Friday, Harper had 162 career home runs off right-handed pitchers and 47 against lefthanders. He was hitting .259 against left-handers and .283 against right-handers.
“I would probably continue to try to get him out with my best weapon,” Kapler reasoned, “and know that when he is right, it’s going to be problematic.”
••• Eflin (7-11, 4.49) and right hander Dinelson Lamet (12, 3.86) will pitch Saturday night at 7:05. Sunday, it will be Jason Vargas (6-6, 4.03) and Padres left-hander Joey Lucchesi (7-7, 4.25).