Phillies Edge Twins Behind Eflin’s Strong Start, Hoskins’ Home Run

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Improving to 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA after his first two starts of the 2019 season is quite the birthday gift for Philadelphia Phillies (6-2) RHP Zach Eflin, who turns 25 on Monday. Thanks to Eflin's masterful outing, and Rhys Hoskins' game-winning, sixth-inning home run, the club captured its second series win of 2019 (2-0-1) by edging the Minnesota Twins (5-3) Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, 2-1.

Twins outfielder Max Kepler began the game with a leadoff home run against Eflin, who would not allow another run in the contest over six total innings. The game would remain 1-0 in favor of the Twins until two outs in the bottom of the sixth, when with a runner on third, Hoskins worked a nine-pitch at-bat that resulted in a two-run home run into the left field flowerbed, his third. Hoskins leads the Phillies with 13 RBI through eight games; he needed 16 games last season to reach as many RBI.

In seven strong innings Eflin earned his 10th career win at Citizens Bank Park by yielding six hits and walking none, while striking out five spanning 105 pitches and 68 strikes. Jose Berrios cruised until his two-run home run allowed to Hoskins, striking out seven batters with just one hit allowed through 5 2/3 innings until that point; albeit his losing decision, Berrios became the first starting pitcher to record an out in the sixth inning against the Phillies in 2019.

Right-hander Hector Neris recorded the club's first save of 2019 with two strikeouts en route to a 1-2-3 ninth. The Phillies had just four hits and four walks on offense, leaving six men on base and going 1-4 with runners in scoring position. Three of the hits went for extra bases (two doubles, one home run). With the win, the Phillies also secured their third-ever series win against the Twins (first at home) since first meeting in 2002. 

Game Notes:

• Kepler's first inning, leadoff home run marked his third of the series, one in each game.
• Twins six-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Nelson Cruz, did not start in any game this series, only recording the final out (strikeout) in the ninth against Neris as a pinch-hitter. Cruz started as the Twins' designated hitter in their first five games, slashing .333/.500/.611 with two doubles, one home run, six RBI, four walks and five strikeouts.
• Bryce Harper walked with two outs in the first; soon after, he stole his first base with the Phillies — the 76th of his career. With his walk, Harper successfully reached base in each of the club's first eight games. Harper finished with two walks, and one strikeout; he now has 10 of each spanning his 36 plate appearances this season.
• With one out in the fourth, left fielder Andrew McCutchen saved a run by throwing out Marwin Gonzalez at home — his first outfield assist with the Phillies.

• Through his two starts and 12 innings pitched this season, Eflin has allowed just one run on nine hits and one walk, while punching out 14 batters — good for a 0.75 ERA. Eight of the nine hits have been singles, The Athletic's Meghan Montemurro notes.
• Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler has received praise for allowing Eflin to remain in the game, bat for himself with two outs in the sixth, and pitch the seventh inning. Kapler stressed the importance of allowing players to build off their previous outing. The right-hander did not disappoint his manager, completing the seventh on just 10 pitches.
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• With two outs in the seventh, against former Phillies prospect RHP Trevor May, third baseman and No. 8 hitter Maikel Franco doubled to right center, his 500th career hit.
• David Robertson (2/3 innings) and Adam Morgan (1/3) combined to throw a scoreless eight in relief of Eflin.
  • Robertson now has thrown two straight scoreless appearances (1 2/3 innings) since allowing four runs over his first three appearances and two innings.
  • Morgan now has five scoreless appearances this season, where in four innings he has allowed just two hits (no walks) with three strikeouts.
• Phillies relievers (Robertson, Morgan, Neris): 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO.
• The game was the Phillies' first single home game "scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m. on a Sunday” since May 28, 1967, at Connie Mack Stadium.

What's Next:

• Monday, April 8, 2019: vs. Washington Nationals, 7:05 p.m.
  • Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 9.00 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP