Rhys Hoskins, Phillies get their retaliation against Mets in an even more satisfying way

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NEW YORK — Roman Quinn's groin strain aside, the Phillies needed a night like this. 

They blanked the Mets, 6-0, Wednesday for their first shutout win of the season (see observations).

They finally cashed in with runners in scoring position to break the game open, something they failed to do for most of their 2-5 road trip through Colorado and New York.

They got a strong starting pitching performance from Vince Velasquez and solid work from four different relievers who took down an inning apiece.

And they had their dramatic moment late in the game when Rhys Hoskins exacted revenge on fringe major-league pitcher Jacob Rhame 24 hours after seeing two high-90s fastballs whiz past his head. Hoskins took Rhame deep to left field ... and then took his time strolling the bases.

Hoskins' trot around the bases needs to be seen in entirety to fully appreciate.

"Oh yeah, I enjoyed the moment," he said postgame. "I just enjoyed the moment. I think to put an exclamation point on a win like that when we really needed it, I think that's what everyone in here is most excited about."

The situation was reminiscent of Chase Utley vs. Jonathan Sanchez in San Francisco in the summer of 2009. Sanchez threw a ball over Utley's head, earned a glare from the stoic second baseman, and Utley homered a few pitches later.

"If a ball goes over your head the night before, the best way to get back at the pitcher is to put the ball in the seats," manager Gabe Kapler said. "I think it was worthy of Rhys having that moment and soaking it all in. He deserved that. He earned it."

Did Hoskins care that the Mets may take offense? Hoskins isn't one for one-word answers, but he was in this case.

"No," he said flatly.

Does he care that there seems to be some bad blood brewing between the Phillies and Mets?

"I think that's what a rivalry is," he said. "I think there's always going to be a little bit of bad blood in a rivalry."

The home run was Hoskins' seventh of the season. It gave the Phillies the last word in a series they lost, and it gives the Mets a little something to chew on during the two-month period before these teams meet again.

The Quinn injury was a sour subplot on an otherwise cathartic evening for the Phillies. He strained his groin legging out a perfectly executed safety squeeze, which enabled the Phillies to expand their lead in the eighth inning. The guy just can't catch a break. Injury after injury. On top of the 3-for-25 start to the season, which included 14 strikeouts.

"I ran out there and I just couldn't believe it," Kapler said of watching Quinn get hurt again. "He's worked so hard to get back. I really feel for Roman. It's nothing he's doing. His body's just not responding. We keep thinking about different ways we can keep him healthy and all he wants to do is get going and stay going. It's tough. I really want the best for Roman."

The Phillies over this last week dealt with injuries, flat offensive performances, a blown extra-inning lead with one strike remaining, an ejection to their best player and two near misses on beanballs. It all came without the respite of an off day. 

"This was a long, hard road trip," Kapler understated. 

Now the Phillies come back home to take on the Marlins for four games. Success against the Marlins may determine this tight NL East. The division has played out as expected through the season's first month. The Phillies, Mets, Braves and Nationals are separated by 1½ games and the Marlins are already 10 games under .500.

Between the Marlins series, an off-day Monday, two games with the offensively-challenged Tigers and another off-day, the Phillies have a chance to quickly put the frustrations of this road trip behind them. If they take care of the business they should take care of.

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