The ball landed on the right field seats. Phil Gosselin floated euphorically around the bases and returned to the shelter where air strikes abounded.
Teammate Jay Bruce congratulated him and asked Gosselin if he had ever had a home run game in the big leagues.
“I think I laughed in his face,” said Gosselin.
If Bruce had the Gosselin chewing gum card, he would know that the very unfaithful player from West Chester, Malvern Prep and the University of Virginia was not known for his power. Gosselin woke up on Saturday morning with just seven home runs in 597 major league at-bats.
At dinner time, he was nine.
Yes, this was a day of firsts for the 2020 Phillies.
They picked up their first win of the new season, 7-1, over the Miami Marlins.
New manager Joe Girardi earned his first victory with the club.
Zack Wheeler made his first start with his new team. He pitched very well and got the victory.
Bryce Harper had his first hit of the new season, a single against a frame change, and it preceded JT Realmuto’s first hit of the season, a gigantic three-run homer off the batter’s center.
But the funniest thing of the day was modest Gosselin, who got off to his first start as a designated hitter and hit two home runs, one jump-off shot, two runs in the sixth inning and a solo shot in the eighth.
OH MY GOSSELIN
A two-run shot from Phil Gosselin and the Phillies are back at the top, 3-1. pic.twitter.com/dZit24IKq4
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 25, 2020
Bruce was not the only teammate who was happy with Gosselin’s first multiple homer game.
They all were.
“We call it ‘Barrels’ for a reason,” said Realmuto. “That guy can hit. We’re glad to see what he did. He’s a great guy, very easy to back up.”
Gosselin is in his 11th pro ball season. He has had time with five major league clubs, including 44 games with the Phillies last season.
He came back to the organization in a minor league deal over the winter because, well, it’s the Phillies. He grew up cheering on the team and if he didn’t go to the big club, he would be close to home in Allentown, where the Triple A club plays.
“He had a good interest, maybe a handful of teams that he was talking to,” Gosselin said. “I just felt like the staff, I know Joe is new, but most of the staff had come back. They had talked to me and said they liked me as a player, and I knew they would call me if I played well. And there was a need because I They did last year. So familiarity helped. I haven’t been on the same team in consecutive years in six years, so it’s good to go back to a place where I meet people and I’m comfortable. “
Gosselin had to fight like hell to get to the club. In fact, he was the last man on the expanded list of 30 men.
“I can’t imagine the stress he felt last week,” said Realmuto. “I’m sure he was relieved to be part of the team and then, on his first start, he hit two home runs. That was huge for us.”
Girardi agreed.
“This was a great victory,” he said. “We are talking about winning series. If we don’t win this game today, we don’t have a chance to (Sunday).”
Gosselin came to the club with a flurry of hits: “He was like 24-for-12,” Girardi said, in the last week of intrasquad and exhibition games. There was no way the Phillies could keep him off the list.
“Those two weeks had a lot to do with it,” Girardi said of the decision to stay with Gosselin.
With left-hander Caleb Smith on the mound for Miami, Bruce, the regular DH, had the day off on Saturday. Girardi decided to hit the hot bat and Gosselin made it to the base four times with a walk, a single and two home runs.
“It made me look smart today,” said Girardi.
“I am just trying to hit the ball hard and I hope they will fall,” Gosselin said.
Back at the clubhouse after the game, Gosselin checked his phone. Hobby text message.
“Only about 300,” he said. “I haven’t even started to look through them. It’s great to see the support. They are a lot of my friends, family, and high school friends. It’s great when everyone works hard for you.”
Of course they are shooting for Gosselin. He is a local boy. His friends are fans of the Phillies and the Phillies are the only show in town at the moment. We are still in the middle of a pandemic, you know. Hence the air collides the five.
AND OTHER!
Phil Gosselin with his second home run of the day and the Phils leading 7-1. pic.twitter.com/jY0M2Uawa8
– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 25, 2020
Gosselin is a sensible guy hardened by years of trying to club like an extra man. He has never been to a camp and has been guaranteed a job. So deep down he knows he’s still essentially in a test. The lists will be reduced by two points in two weeks and two more points in one month.
But if you continue to have days like Saturday, you will stay.
“I am very pleased that Joe gave me an early start to continue shooting,” Gosselin said. “I know early in the year it can be tough. Sometimes when you’re a bench guy, you sit down and you don’t get consistent at-bats, so it was good getting four in one day today and helping the team out.
“This has been amazing and I’m just trying to soak it up. It’s my eleventh year. You never know how long it’s going to last. You never know if you’ll ever play for your hometown team again. So, you just enjoy every moment and try to help. the team to make the playoffs.
“That would be incredible. I saw all those World Series caliber teams as fans, so being in the postseason with the Phillies would be crazy.”
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