The phrase, Rhys Hoskins revealed afterward, circulated among a few Phillies players Wednesday afternoon at Citi Field:
“Don’t poke the sleeping bear.”
“It seemed to be,” Hoskins continued, “that the last couple of innings was an indication that may have happened.”
Do the Mets suddenly lead baseball in 2019 unforced errors? Can they use this sudden ill will with their closest geographical rival to their benefit, or will it distract them?
Hoskins’ epic, ninth-inning home-run trot — 34.23 seconds, the slowest of the Statcast era (since 2015), beating the record of 34.1 seconds set by Victor Martinez in 2016 — punctuated a Wednesday night of revenge for the Phillies against the Mets. The Phils’ 6-0 victory avoided a Mets sweep and knotted up the two clubs at 13-11, atop the ultra-competitive NL East. And it left them proud and confident in the visitors’ clubhouse, one night after they looked angry in the same location and two nights after they appeared befuddled there.
“I think there’s always going to be a little bit of bad blood in [a] rivalry,” Hoskins said.
Only Jacob Rhame knows whether he intended to throw a pair of pitches over Hoskins’ head Tuesday night, with one out remaining in a 9-0 Mets blowout over the Phils. The right-hander denied intent.
To the contrary, Hoskins acknowledged exactly what he was doing when he slammed his two-run homer to left field off Rhame and enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the bases. As MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo pointed out, Hoskins took nearly four seconds longer to round the bases than did portly geezer Bartolo Colon (30.5) when he slugged his only career homer in 2016 for the Mets.
“I was just enjoying the moment,” Hoskins said.
“I think that if a ball goes over your head the night before, the best way to sort of way to get back at the pitcher is by putting the ball in the seats,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “I thought that it was worthy of [Hoskins] having that moment and really taking it all in, soaking it all in. He deserved that. I think he earned it.”
The Phillies played an all-around terrific game, with starting pitcher Vince Velasquez holding Mets batters hitless (with a walk) in six at-bats with runners in scoring position and striking out six over his five innings of work, then four relievers not even permitting a Met to reach second base.
Their defense improved vastly after totaling five errors in the series’ first two games — the Mets made three errors, two by struggling shortstop Amed Rosario — and though they somehow managed only one run against Mets fifth starter Jason Vargas, they did force him to throw 89 pitches in his 4 ²/₃ innings, thereby working their way to relievers whom they could hurt. Three runs came off Robert Gsellman in the eighth, and Hoskins’ cranked his two-run retaliation against Rhame in the ninth.
“I think when emotions are high, that tends to create more focus,” Kapler said. “Adrenaline allows you to focus and lock in. I think that’s what we saw tonight from Rhys.”
Before Wednesday’s game, Mets manager Mickey Callaway shrugged when offered the observation that Rhame’s actions had transformed the Phillies’ postgame clubhouse Tuesday night from morose to fiery.
“I’m sure it was,” Callaway said of the visitors’ clubhouse, “but we’re not concerned with how they feel, how they think. … If you need that to light a fire under you, you’ve probably got it the wrong way. We come to play every single day. Every single pitch. That’s our approach over here. We’re not worried about how anybody else feels.”
On one hand, kudos to Callaway for showing some moxie. On another, larger hand, though? Eh. It’s a long season. Sometimes that fire needs some more kindling, and Rhame provided that. If the Mets did feel like the Phillies were targeting them, despite scant evidence? A Rhame pitch to Hoskins’ keister would have sent the proper message without elevating tensions or putting anyone’s safety in jeopardy.
The Phillies achieved vengeance with momentum rather than mayhem. Can the Mets quickly clean up after themselves and navigate this restoked rivalry amidst their overall challenging league? It’s a question that never should have hit their radar.