The Phillies have come to life.
They are hot.
Four wins in a row.
Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler both threw gems (14 total innings, but two runs) over that span.
The offense produced 31 runes in the four games, reaching a crescendo in Tuesday night’s 13-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
The Phils hit four home points and struck out three doubles in the game. Ten of their runes came with two outs.
The victory put the Phils at 9-9 as they approached the one-third mark of the 60-sprint sprint.
By the time the season came, offense was the strength of this team and has been.
The Phillies will enter Wednesday afternoon’s game at Boston rankings at as well as at the top in a number of notable offensive categories.
They are no. 1 in the major in average batting at .268.
They are no. 2 in major in sludge at .478. (The No. 1 Yankees are at .482.)
They are no. 3 in major in percentage on .349.
They are no. 2 in the major in OPS at .827. (The No. 1 Yankees are at .832.)
They are no. 7 in the major, averaging 1.61 homers per game.
The Phils are also second in the major with a 90 percent (9 out of 10) base percentage, notable because they hit two big bags in their decisive seven-rally steal in the sixth inning Tuesday night.
On the pitching side, the Phils ranks 26th with a terrible ERA of 5.49. Oh, but the starters have been good. She rode ninth in the major with an ERA of 3.82. The bullpen has been a problem, though Blake Parker made a run Tuesday night with two major scoreless innings. Overall, the ‘pin has the worst ERA in the major at 8.32.
Individually, the offense was led by Bryce Harper, who ranked first in the majors in on-base percentage (.486), second in OPS (1.186) and fourth in the handball average (.367).
JT Realmuto is tied for sixth in the major with eight homers and tied for eighth with 20 RBIs.
Harper had an enormous three-run homer in the sixth inning Tuesday night. Jay Bruce and Rhys Hoskins also homer. Didi Gregorius, Roman Quinn and Andrew McCutchen also had important hits.
But the striking star in the match was Phil Gosselin, who came off the bench and responded to the big rally with a two-out, RBI double in the sixth and then added a home game in the seventh.
Gosselin has become manager perfected by Joe Girardi, who delivers a direct attack from the bench when starting against lefty pitchers.
Girardi used Gosselin as a pitcher for Scott Kingery with two outs, a man on first base and the Phils a run in sixth. Girardi said he did not miss the chance to get Gosselin at-bat against a left pitcher (Josh Taylor). It is likely that Kingery’s cravings (6 for 49, .122) also influenced the manager’s decision.
The decision to beat Gosselin for Kingery was the game’s decision, the turning point.
Gosselin was the last player to make the 30-man roster. He hit the roster and was just stopped. He is 12 for 28 (.429) with three doubles and three homers.
After the match, the question came up again: Why not ride Gosselin’s hot bat with more playing time?
The answer is complicated, Girardi said.
Gosselin is usually a second baseman. He also plays third base and can help on shortstop, first base and in left field.
Gosselin playing more on second base may have been a possibility when Kingery was the only man in that position, but that landscape changed when Alec Bohm was called up last week. The first pick of the first round will receive regular reps on a third basis. That means Jean Segura, who owes $ 30 million by 2022, will play second base.
It’s a good thing for Gosselin and the Phillies that the National League is using a designated hitter in this short 60-game season. Girardi could use Gosselin anywhere – maybe DH, maybe left field – if a left-hander is on the mound for the opposition. That means Gosselin could – should? – get a start somewhere on Wednesday afternoon. Boston starts a lefty, Kyle Hart, and Gosselin is 9 for 19 against lefties. Jake Arrieta will pitch for the Phils.
The Phillies are just 1½ games out in the NL East. They have fought back to the .500 mark. Is this the day they come across that mark?
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