What we learned from winning series with Mets and 5-1 start to season
After only hitting two home runs in the Philadelphia Phillies’ first five games, it took all of four batters for Joe Girardi’s team to equal that total in Wednesday’s 8-2 victory over the New York Mets.
Facing Mets left-hander David Peterson, No. 2 hitter Rhys Hoskins smacked a 3-2 slider to right center field for an early 1-0 lead.
Following a Bryce Harper double and J.T. Realmuto walk, No. 5 batter Alec Bohm made it 4-0 with a blast to left center on an 0-1 slider.
Realmuto joined in the fun with a three-run home run to right center on a first-pitch fastball in the fifth inning to make it 7-1 and help close out a 5-1 season-opening homestand vs. a pair of quality National League East rivals.
With this Phillies’ lineup, it was just a matter of time until the bats started coming around.
Perhaps most encouraging was the Phillies’ 4-1 record coming into the day despite only getting homers from backup catcher Andrew Knapp and shortstop Didi Gregorius in the first five games, when they averaged just 3.6 runs per contest and never had more than five.
The Phils swept a three-game series from the Atlanta Braves and rallied to win Monday’s opener against the Mets with a five-run eighth inning primarily on the strength of pitching and defense.
If the offense, which returns nearly all of the roster that averaged the fifthmost runs in the majors (6.4) and had the 12th-most home runs (82) during the abbreviated 2020 season, can approach those numbers, the Phillies could be formidable.
“I think all teams like three-run homers, but I think the biggest thing is putting runners on base,” Girardi said. “If you do that all the time, you’re going to score runs . ... If you start looking for home runs, you’re going to make quick outs and you’re going to swing and miss a lot.”
Hoskins tied a career-high with three extra-base hits, adding a pair of doubles to his first-inning homer.
Here are other things we learned Wednesday:
Disappointing day for Nola
Phillies ace Aaron Nola wasn’t as dominant as he had been in the season-opening 3-2 win over the Braves, which meant Girardi had to go to the bullpen earlier than he had hoped.
Though he only allowed one run, Nola needed 92 pitches to get through four innings and couldn’t fully take advantage of the Phillies’ four-run first inning. He walked two, hit a batter and gave up six hits.
“It was a grind,” Nola said. “They battled me pretty hard . ... It was just one of those days. I did everything I could to keep it at one [run].
Nola had cruised in his 2021 debut until allowing a two-run, pinch-hit homer by Atlanta’s Pablo Sandoval with two down in the seventh inning. He registered 20 outs on 99 pitches, with no walks and six strikeouts.
On Wednesday, New York scored a run in the third inning and had two on with one out when Nola struck out Dominic Smith and Jonathan Villar to escape further damage.
In the fourth, the Mets had one on with two down when Nola walked Brandon Nimmo and hit Francisco Lindor to load the bases before striking out Phillies killer Michael Conforto looking. That ended Nola’s afternoon.
“His location and stuff wasn’t really sharp today,” Girardi said, “but he found a way to get through four innings with a very good lineup with a high pitch count and traffic all day and only give up one run . ... His command just wasn’t very good today.”
Brogdon wins again
Phillies reliever Connor Brogdon tossed 1 ⅔ scoreless innings to earn his third win in three appearances this season. He has three of the Phillies’ five victories.
“He’s on the road to [20 wins],” said Nola with a laugh.
Brodgon, a second-year Phillie, pitched the 10th inning in the opening victory over the Braves, the eighth inning in Monday’s come-from-behind win over the Mets and the fifth inning plus most of the sixth Wednesday. He has thrown 3 ⅔ scoreless innings this season following his 8 ⅔ scoreless September innings here.
Nola couldn’t pick up the victory because he only lasted four innings. Starters must complete five in a nine-inning game to be eligible for the win.
Pitching matchups vs. Braves
After Thursday’s off-day, the Phils begin a three-game set with the Braves in Atlanta on Friday night.
Zack Wheeler is scheduled to face the Braves’ Charlie Morton in the series opener, followed by Philadelphia’s Zach Eflin vs. Ian Anderson on Saturday evening and Matt Moore against Atlanta’s Drew Smyly, a former Phillie, on Sunday night.