Taylor homers late as Nats salvage split with Phillies
WASHINGTON >> The hype has begun, and for that, Aaron Altherr is ready.
All-Star candidacy? Bring it on, he says, at whatever risk of offending baseball’s greater forces.
“It’s no jinx,” Altherr said Sunday, with a smile. “I’ve been hearing it for about a week now. So it’s no jinx. It would be sweet. I would definitely love doing that.”
Because the Phillies are guaranteed an All-Star Game participant, and because he has become a dangerous power hitter, Altherr has surfaced as a candidate, with the Phillies embracing the idea. “Aaron All-Starr,” is the way they have labeled one of the categories on their pregame press notes … and with reason.
Altherr hit a home run in the ninth inning Sunday, igniting a three-run rally that would give the Phils a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first half of a day-night doubleheader. He was 2-for-3, with the home run and a walk, improving his batting average to .350. Just two weeks in, that had given him a 16RBI May.
His 1.148 OPS was the sixth highest among major league players with at least 85 plate appearances, trailing only Ryan Zimmerman, Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, Mike Trout and Aaron Judge. Though he’d had a streak of three consecutive games with a three-run homer snapped Saturday night, his home run Sunday, on a 3-2 count, was his fourth in five games.
Altherr was playing center field, as Pete Mackanin gave Odubel Herrera a rest. He played left field in Game 2 and went 0-for-4 with a run scored.
The Phils are also pushing the All-Star candidacy of Cesar Hernandez, who went 0-for-5 in Game 2, his average dipping to .311.
*** Vince Velasquez went five Game 2 innings, showing increased velocity. But the bullpen faltered, with Pat Neshek surrendering a tworun homer to Michael Taylor in the eighth. That put the Nats ahead to stay, 6-5.
They were the first runs surrendered by Neshek in his 13⅔ innings this season. Had to end sometime? “Exactly,” he said. “You are playing against worldclass athletes every day who are trying to kick your butt. So it was good. These guys played so hard today, especially scrapping against (Max) Scherzer there. I felt like I let them down today. You know, that’s the beauty of baseball. We get to play again pretty much every day.”
Velasquez struck out five and walked three.
“Their team is on fire, all the way through,” Velasquez said. “They make you work. They make you make pitches and you just have to execute. You have to put them away early sometimes and it is unfortunate that you can’t. They keep battling and keep fouling pitches off. Next time they come around, maybe they will be in a slump or something, but those guys are on fire right now.”
*** Jeremy Hellickson was lifted for pinch-hitter Odubel Herrera to lead off the sixth after throwing only 75 Game 1 pitches, 49 for strikes. The Phils were trailing, 3-0, and Gio Gonzalez was sharp for the Nats.
“I have to take advantage of every opportunity I have to score some runs,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “It was the sixth inning and Herrera led off with that single. It didn’t lead to anything, but that’s what I’ve got to try to do, get on the board. Plus, Helly gave up a couple home runs and wasn’t as sharp as I’ve seen him in the past.”
Hellickson has allowed seven home runs in his last three starts, including one to Bryce Harper and another to Trea Turner Sunday.
“It’s a good lineup,” Hellickson said. “It’s a good team. It will be for the best to get away from them for a little bit.”
***
Tommy Joseph’s Game 1 home run was his third in four games.
“I’ve been putting myself in better positions, better counts,” he said. “My bat speed is starting to come around, too. I’ve done a better job elevating the ball, which obviously helps when it comes to extra-base hits. So those are definitely positives.”
***
NOTES >> Howie Kendrick, recovering from an oblique injury and eligible to return from the disabled list, will meet the Phils in Texas, where they will open a three-game series Tuesday. He is still expected to require a rehab game before rejoining the club. … Jerad Eickhoff (0-3, 4.76 ERA) will face right-hander Yu Darvish (3-2, 2.96) Tuesday at 8:05. Wednesday night, it will be Zach Eflin (0-0, 2.81) and right-hander Andrew Cashner (0-3, 2.43). Thursday afternoon at 2:05, it will be Nick Pivetta (0-2, 6.14) and left-hander Martin Perez (1-5, 3.89). … Under rules for a doubleheader, the Phillies had Ben Lively available as a 26th player Sunday. He was returned to Lehigh Valley afterward.