Smyly tosses 7 shutout innings, leads Phillies past Giants

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rhys Hoskins feels a fun vibe in the clubhouse of late, the kind that makes it easier for him to believe the Phillies can make a serious playoff push.

But having a couple of new arms in the rotation just might help a bit more in the pennant race.

Drew Smyly tossed seven shutout innings and Hoskins homered to lead Philadelphia to a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.

The Phillies took the first game of a three-game set between teams in the hunt for an NL wild-card spot. It was the first of seven games the teams will play over the next two weeks, and they could go a long way toward deciding which might play in October.

“We haven’t played to our ability yet but the talent is still there,” Hoskins said.

The Giants had won 12 of 15 and 19 of 24 to jump back into the playoff picture, but couldn’t solve Smyly (2-5) in his second start for the Phillies.

“I’m just trying to go a roll, keep hitters off balance and go with it,” Smyly said.

Smyly allowed a run in six innings in his first start for the Phillies and was just as sharp against the Giants. The 30-yearold Smyly, signed last week after he opted out of a minor league deal with Milwaukee, could be a needed boost to a pitching rotation in flux. Smyly scattered four hits, struck out five and was never in any serious trouble, helping to send the Giants to their seventh straight loss in Philadelphia.

He should have stuck around at least another inning. Nick Pivetta continued to struggle in relief and allowed pinch-hit homers to Brandon Belt and Stephen Vogt in the eighth to make it 4-2.

Hector Neris worked a scoreless ninth for his 19thth save.

“It’s just an off night for our bats,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

With Wednesday’s trade deadline looming, the Phillies made a move this week to solidify their rotation for the stretch run when they acquired left-hander Jason Vargas from the New York Mets.