Hoskins Blasts 3-Run Homer As Phillies Beat Nationals, 4-2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rhys Hoskins hit a three-run homer, Jerad Eickhoff threw five crisp innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Friday night.
After Kurt Suzuki went deep off Seranthony Dominguez (3-0) to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead in the sixth, the Phillies rallied.
Jean Segura's infield single with one out chased Jeremy Hellickson. Lefty Dan Jennings (0-1) entered to face Bryce Harper, who drew a walk. Nationals manager Dave Martinez had a right-hander warming up in the bullpen but kept Jennings in to pitch to Hoskins. The cleanup hitter blasted a 1-1 pitch out to left to give Philadelphia a 4-2 lead.
Jennings has allowed more than double the number of homers to righties than lefties (17-8) in his career in almost the same number of at-bats (699-605) they've had against him.
The NL East-leading Phillies have won five of six. The Nationals have lost seven of nine to fall a season-worst five games under .500.
Eickhoff fanned seven, allowing one run and three hits. He was pulled after 87 pitches.
Adam Morgan tossed a scoreless seventh and hasn't allowed a run in 16 appearances this season. Pat Neshek pitched the eighth and Hector Neris finished for his fifth save in five tries.
Hellickson, who was Philadelphia's opening day starter in 2016 and '17, gave up two runs and four hits, striking out nine in 5 1/3 innings.
Segura lined an opposite-field homer to right to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the first.
Hellickson helped himself by walking to start the third. He advanced to second on Adam Eaton's single and scored on Howie Kendrick's two-out single to left.
The Phillies wasted Harper's leadoff double in the fourth. Hellickson struck out Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto before retiring Nick Williams on a fly to center.
FAMILIAR FACES
Harper was 1 for 3 with a double and walk against his former team. He's 7 for 19 (.368) with two homers and six RBIs in six games vs. Washington.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: LF Juan Soto missed his third straight game with back spasms.
Phillies: CF Odubel Herrera is expected to return to the lineup this weekend. Herrera has been sidelined by a right hamstring since April 17.
UP NEXT
LHP Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.58 ERA) goes for the Nationals and RHP Jake Arrieta (4-2, 3.46) starts for the Phillies on Saturday night. Corbin is 3-2 in five career starts vs. Philadelphia. Arrieta is 1-2 with a 5.26 ERA in 13 starts vs. Washington.
