PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered in the first inning for the third straight game and the surging Philadelphia Phillies routed the Washington Nationals 11-5 on Saturday night.
He is the first Phillies player to do it since at least 1900. J.T. Realmuto and Matt Vierling also went deep for the surging Phillies, who have won nine of 10 to move a season-best 11-games over .500. Realmuto also tripled and drove in three runs and Jean Segura had three hits for Philadelphia, which will try for a four-game series sweep of the Nationals on Sunday.
Realmuto is the first catcher since at least 1900 to homer and triple in consecutive contests.
“We’re swinging it good right now,” Vierling said. “Just roll with the hot streak.”
The Phillies improved to 38-19 since June 1, which was the final game for manager Joe Girardi before being replaced by interim manager Rob Thomson.
“It’s a good vibe,” Thomson said.
Luke Voit homered and Lane Thomas had three hits and an RBI for Washington, which is an MLB-worst 36-73. The Nationals have lost eight of 10 overall and four of five since trading star slugger Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell to the San Diego Padres. They have dropped nine of 11 to the Phillies this year.
“We’ve got to keep going,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “I have to remind myself what we’re headed for, what we’re building for, and that’s for the future. We’re going to have some good players come up here relatively soon, and we’ve just got to keep battling.”
Hoskins hit a 440-foot solo drive to deep left with one out off Patrick Corbin (4-16) in the opening inning. Vierling, after making a stellar diving catch in center field for the first out of the game, followed with a three-run shot to left four batters later.
“To come out of the gates hot like that is really good,” Vierling said.
Bryson Stott’s two-run triple made it 6-0, and Corbin was lifted after getting just two outs following a walk to Kyle Schwarber in the leadoff man’s second at-bat in the first inning. Corbin had gotten Schwarber to ground out leading off the first in his initial at-bat.
It was the sixth straight loss for Corbin, who signed a six-year, $140 million deal with Washington prior to the 2019 season. He gave up five hits and needed 43 pitches for those two outs while raising his season ERA to 7.02. In the last six contests, Corbin has a 12.46 ERA with 44 hits allowed in 21 ⅔ innings.
“Last few outings have been basically the same,” Martinez said. “Can’t finish hitters, location misses. I feel bad. Believe me, he’s not trying to miss his location, he’s just not finishing hitters.”
Martinez said the club and Corbin will have discussions about a possible move to the bullpen, though no decisions have been made.
Phillies starter Ranger Suarez (8-5) surrendered three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and two walks.
“It’s definitely helpful to get those runs early,” Suarez said through an interpreter.
After Philadelphia scored three more times in the second to make it 9-0, the Nationals plated four runs in the sixth against Suarez and Nick Nelson via Voit’s leadoff homer and Tres Barrera’s two-run double off Nelson that closed the book on Suarez.
Realmuto connected in the bottom of the frame for a two-run homer to center into the Philadelphia bullpen, where right-handed reliever Andrew Bellatti snagged the ball with a nice catch.
McBRIDE, REED HONORED
The Phillies honored OF Bake McBride and RHP Ron Reed with induction into the club’s Wall of Fame during a pregame ceremony. Both members of Philadelphia’s 1980 World Series championship team, McBride had a .770 OPS in five seasons for the Phillies while Reed posted a 3.06 ERA in 458 games, all but nine of which were out of the bullpen, over eight seasons.
ROSTER MOVES
The Phillies released OF Odúbel Herrera and RHP Jeurys Familia. Both were designated for assignment on Tuesday after the club acquired OF Brandon Marsh and RHP David Robertson via trades.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: DH Nelson Cruz (stiff neck) returned to the lineup after missing three games in a row and went 1 for 3 with a pair of walks.
UP NEXT
Nationals RHP Cory Abbott (0-0, 1.00) will make his third career starter and oppose Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (7-8, 3.25) in the final contest of the four-game series on Sunday afternoon.
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