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Nick Williams steps up as Phillies win in 12 without Rhys Hoskins

The Phillies played without Hoskins and their "other" rookie helped pick them up in a 3-1 win over the Marlins.

Phillies Nick Williams, right, watches after driving in the go-ahead run and an insurance run in the twelfth inning of the Phillies 3-1 win over the Marlins.
Phillies Nick Williams, right, watches after driving in the go-ahead run and an insurance run in the twelfth inning of the Phillies 3-1 win over the Marlins.Read moreLYNNE SLADKY / AP

MIAMI — Nick Williams spent the last four weeks almost undercover as the attention around the Phillies shifted toward Rhys Hoskins' arrival to the big leagues. Williams, who reached the majors six weeks before Hoskins, was no longer the hot attraction.

Sunday's 3-1 win served as a reminder of the team's "other" rookie. Williams supplied the winning runs with a two-run, two-out single in the 12th inning and made a few smooth plays in center as the Phillies played without Hoskins. Williams had a chance to drive in a go-ahead run in the 10th but he grounded out to the pitcher.

He made up for it the 12th, driving a fastball to right field. The Phillies had gone six innings without a run. They finally had a lead.

"I wanted to just stay with the same approach," Williams said. "I was thinking 'Hit the ball right at the pitcher.' The at-bat before, I literally did that. I just tried to stay within myself, not get too big, and square a ball up. With two outs, just trying to grind it out."

Williams quietly put together a solid August as Hoskins crashed onto the scene. Hoskins was held out of Sunday's lineup after he was hit in the wrist Saturday by a 98-mph fastball. The Phillies are hopeful that he will play on Monday afternoon in New York. Williams batted .274 in August and raised his on-base percentage. He will have to reduce his strikeout rate, but Williams clearly has claimed a role in the team's plans. He made a sliding catch in the 10th and has showed a growing proficiency in center field, a position he played sparingly this season at triple A.

"He makes some very good diving plays, some athletic plays," manager Pete Mackanin said. "He has a tendency to break back every time the ball is hit. Once he corrects that, he's going to really be good outfielder. But he's capable of making those great plays. I can remember a half a dozen of them. He's very athletic. Still needs to improve his routes and read the ball off the bat a little better."

The Phillies used four relievers — Juan Nicasio, Luis Garcia, Adam Morgan, and Hector Neris —  to piece together six scoreless innings after Jake Thompson was lifted after six innings. Thompson struck out a career-high seven batters in six innings as he made his first start since being recalled from triple A. The righthander allowed just one run on three hits. He picked up five of his seven strikeouts against Miami's top of the order: Derek Dietrich, Giancarlo Stanton, and Christian Yelich.  All seven strikeouts came from off-speed pitches as Thompson mixed in an effective slider and change-up.

"That's the best I've seen him pitch," Mackanin said. "He had a great mound presence and was in total command. He had command of all his pitches. He really impressed."

He even helped the Phillies score their lone run before Williams' game-winning hit. Thompson pulled back on a bunt attempt and singled to center in the fifth to move Cameron Perkins to second. Perkins then scored on a single from  Hernandez.

Thompson's only run allowed came on a wild pitch in the fifth when it seemed his start may be slipping away. He started the inning with a leadoff double to Brian Anderson, who scored when Thompson threw a two-out wild pitch in the dirt against Miguel Rojas. He then hit Rojas in the arm but escaped the inning. Thompson ended his day by retiring each of the three batters he faced in the sixth, two on strikeouts.

It was a promising start for Thompson, who had a rough season at triple A and struggled in his three starts in the majors. The 23-year-old was a key piece of the trade that sent Cole Hamels to Texas, but he was beginning to look like a lost prospect. Sunday provided some hope.

"It's definitely nice to have one of these days, after what I've been through this year, struggling and bouncing back and forth," Thompson said. "It makes you feel good … I wanted to have something to feel good about going into the offseason. Having something to build off is huge."

The Phillies squandered a chance in the 10th when Freddy Galvis singled to left to move Hernandez to third with just one out. Williams, the next batter, hit a ground ball to the pitcher and Hernandez was caught in a rundown. Tommy Joseph then grounded out and the rally was quickly extinguished. Williams had another chance two innings later and he did not miss.

"It was great," Williams said. "It felt good, especially to get the win."