Hoskins leaves early in Phillies loss to Marlins

MIAMI – Rhys Hoskins grabbed his right hand on Saturday night and grimaced. He was in serious pain and that was enough to send manager Pete Mackanin and athletic trainer Scott Sheridan shooting out of the dugout before Hoskins was even halfway to first base in the seventh inning of a 10-9 loss to the Marlins.

Hoskins' fascinating rookie season had its first scare when he was hit by a 98 mph fastball from Marlins righthander Brian Ellington. Hoskins said his hand is bruised and swollen but X-rays came back negative. The Phillies will know more on Sunday. Manager Pete Mackanin said Hoskins is day-to-day. Hoskins stayed in the game after being hit but was then lifted from the field in a double switch in the bottom of the seventh. Mackanin said it was a precautionary move. It would not be surprising if the Phillies chose to sit Hoskins on Sunday.

"It's 98 to the hand," Hoskins said. "So obviously there was some pain. It got me just above my wrist and my palm."

Hoskins left the game a triple shy of the cycle as he rallied from going hitless on Friday night. No Phillies rookie has ever hit for the cycle. Hoskins singled in the second, homered in the fourth, and doubled in the fifth. He has reached base safely in 17-straight games.

"We'll come tomorrow, see how it feels and go from there," Hoskins said.

The Marlins tagged Aaron Nola for six runs and two homers in five innings. The final month of the season will not determine Nola's place in next season's starting rotation. The pitcher spot is already well secured. But games like Saturday may temper expectations. He lacked a reliable curveball and the Marlins jumped on his uncommonly spotty fastball.

The righthander gave up 10 hits, five of which were for extra bases. It was tied for his shortest start over the last three months, a period that was filled with some of Nola's finest outings.

"I was consistent at one point during the season and I want to get back to that," Nola said. "I definitely don't want to have starts like this. I wasn't getting the leadoff guy out a lot tonight and that has really helped me in good starts that I've had this year."

The Phillies rallied in both the fourth and fifth innings to get within a run. Both times, Nola dug a deeper hole. Nola has faced the Marlins three times this season and each has been a challenge as the pitcher has allowed 17 runs in 141/3 innings.

"They're pretty good but I just have to execute better," Nola said. "I think I get them one more time so I'll try to make some adjustments."

Nick Williams hit a three-run triple with two outs in the eighth to get the Phillies within two runs. Daniel Nava followed with a single to cut Miami's lead to 10-9 before Tommy Joseph struck out to end the rally. Joseph hit a two-run homer in the fifth to become the fifth Phillies first baseman in the last 45 years to post back-to-back 20-homer seasons. Joseph joined Ryan Howard, Jim Thome, and Rico Brogna.

The injury to Hoskins came five innings after Pedro Florimon was carted off the field after suffering what the team called a dislocated ankle in the second inning. Florimon spent the night in an area hospital and Mackanin said it is unlikely that the utility player will return this season. Florimon twisted his ankle on first base after legging out an infield single. It was an ugly injury and a crushing blow as Florimon made a quick impression in his three weeks with the Phillies and was playing himself into consideration for a spot on next year's roster.

Nola started his night with promise. He struck out Dee Gordon on four pitches, blowing a high fastball past him for strike three. Perhaps this would be one of those special nights.

That sentiment lasted for just two more pitches. Giancarlo Stanton, the second batter Nola would face, slammed a 445-foot homer to the left-center field concourse behind the Marlins' silly home run sculpture, which soon lit up as animatronic flamingos danced and marlins dove. Nola could only watch and his night would only get worse.

"Nola just didn't have it," Mackanin said. "He didn't have it. That's the best way I can put it."