By Sam Bush
Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame and taunted him with a slow jog around the bases a night after Rhame buzzed him with two fastballs, and the struggling Phillies beat the New York Mets 6-0.
Hoskins was furious after Rhame sailed two pitches over his head with two outs in the ninth inning of New York’s 9-0 win Tuesday. The slugger faced Rhame again in the ninth last night, flipping his bat emphatically after hooking a two-run shot over the wall in left.
It took Hoskins 34.23 seconds to touch ‘em all, the slowest trot in the majors this season.
Bryce Harper doubled in a run but struck out three times, and Vince Velasquez pitched five innings for the Phillies, who avoided a three-game sweep and won for the second time in seven games.
Velasquez (1-0) struck out six and allowed three hits, dropping his ERA to 1.99. Pat Neshek, Seranthony Dominguez, Adam Morgan and Juan Nicasio pitched an inning each to close up shop.
Hoskins sparked a three-run eighth with his first career triple, and then made his statement against Rhame in the ninth.
