Great Scott: Phillies 7, Diamondbacks 4

Last year, Scott Kingery signed a deal with the Phillies that made it seem like they knew something we didn’t. After a strong spring, the team locked him up, and for most of the 2018 season, it was clear that whatever they’d seen just wasn’t there anymore. We were left to wonder, then, who Kingery was going to be when he showed up this year among the Phillies’ new, more talented roster.

If last night was any indiction, the future the Phillies saw for Kingery may be back.

In the last two weeks, he’s hitting .295 with a 1.022 OPS and 8 XBH. He’s filling a crucial role in center field, and another crucial role at third base, while also presumably filling any needs the Phillies have in the middle infield. Here he is being listed as the starter at two positions.

So considering how much the Phillies have asked of KIngery, it’s incredible to see him put together much notable success at all. But there he was last night against the Diamondbacks, blasting a three-run shot in the second that gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead. Bryce Harper followed him that inning with a double that made it 4-0.

With a four-run lead early, all the Phillies had to do was keep it from slipping away. By the time it was 4-3 in the top of the fifth, no one could have been that surprised. Jake Arrieta was on the mound, looking hittable at times and accurate at others, lowering his season ERA to 4.31, but he may have been at a disadvantage.

In any case, the runs Arrieta allowed didn’t ruin the evening. Jay Bruce was also around, making diving catches and knocking in runs; you know, the Jay Bruce Show. J.T. Realmuto slipped a double passed third in the fifth, and Arizona outfielder David Peralta threw what appeared to be the baseball but was so inaccurate it may have been a wayward bird. Rhys Hoskins, stopping at third on the play, hesitated long enough to be thrown out racing home, but a second, even more inaccurate throw home allowed him to score. Now, we are calling it a “heads-up play” instead of a “base running gaffe.”

No matter! Hoskins knocked in another run the next inning and the Phillies escaped with a 7-4 lead thanks to Hector Neris’ 14th save of the year in 14 chances.