Rhys Hoskins atoned for a costly fielding blunder in Wednesday’s loss with a three-hit, four-RBI game in the Phillies’ 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
The win improved the Phillies to 5-1 on the season. They have scored eight or more runs in five of their six games and reached double digits twice.
The game was played in raw weather conditions. It was 43 degrees at first pitch and rain fell for the first five innings.
The keys
• Minnesota starter Jake Odorizzi, pitching in difficult conditions, could not get through the first inning. He was lifted at 36 pitches and apologized on the mound to manager Rocco Baldelli for his ineffectiveness. The Phillies capitalized on that ineffectiveness for five runs.
• Good work by the bullpen in this one. Adam Morgan, Hector Neris, Pat Neshek and David Robertson combined on four scoreless innings.
MLB
• Hoskins’ eighth-inning error allowed the tying run to score Wednesday in Washington and the Phils lost that game, 9-8, in the bottom of the ninth. Hoskins came back with a vengeance in this one. He reached base four times, had an RBI single in the first inning and a rare three-run single in the seventh.
No breakout yet
Big things have been predicted for Nick Pivetta this season and there’s still a lot of time for it to happen. But through two starts — and one in horrible weather conditions — Pivetta has been less than impressive. He has allowed 17 hits in 9 2/3 innings.
Pivetta lasted five innings in this one and gave up nine hits, including two homers, and four runs. He did get the win.
Gotta like Maik
Maikel Franco reached base in his first three plate appearances with a two-run bloop double, an intentional walk and a conventional walk. Franco, hitting eighth in the Phils’ lineup, has 10 RBIs in six games and his on-base percentage is .593.
Early work
The Phillies brought in several pitchers from extended spring training camp to pitch to reserves Andrew Knapp, Aaron Altherr, Scott Kingery and Nick Williams in an early afternoon simulated game. The Phils have played a set lineup the first six games and at-bats off the bench have been scarce. The drill helped Altherr. He had a pinch-hit, RBI double.
A rare feat
Minnesota shortstop Jorge Polanco became the first player to hit for the cycle against the Phillies since Washington’s Brad Wilkerson in April 2005. Polanco had five hits.
Heath check
Reliever Tommy Hunter will not throw for three weeks after having a PRP injection in the area of his right elbow/forearm/flexor. Hunter has been nursing a strain in that area since the start of spring training. He is on the injured list and there is no timetable for his return.
Up next
The two teams play again Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Jake Arrieta makes his second start of the season against Minnesota’s Michael Pineda.
Saturday’s forecast calls for sun and temperatures in the high 60s. As of Friday night, the Phillies had over 42,000 tickets sold for the game.
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