Hoskins, Santana launch first HRs of 2018
ATLANTA -- The two most important spots in Gabe Kapler's lineup are the No. 2 and 4 holes.
Carlos Santana and Rhys Hoskins hit second and fourth, respectively, in Friday night's 5-4 win in 11 innings over the Braves at SunTrust Park. They are expected to hit there most of the season, even with the possibility that no two Kapler lineups could look alike.
Hoskins ripped his first home run of the season in the second inning off Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, handing the Phillies a 1-0 lead. The ball left Hoskins' bat at 109.7 mph, according to Statcast™, making it the second-hardest-hit home run of his young career. He hit one 110.2 mph last season. The ball travelled a projected 423 feet with a 28-degree launch angle.
Santana hit a sacrifice fly in the third to hand the Phillies a 2-0 lead and a solo home run to right field in the fifth to tie the game at 3. It was Santana's first hit with the Phillies.
But Santana's best at-bat came in the 11th inning with the game on the line. He fell behind Braves reliever Shane Carle 0-2 and battled back to hit a 2-2 fastball to left field for a sac fly to score J.P. Crawford as the game-winning run.
"He's tough," Santana said. "For me, my approach is trying to make good contact, and it happened."
Kapler said his research shows that the No. 2 and 4 spots hit with more runners on base and more runners in scoring position than any other in the lineup, which is why he wants his two biggest run producers there.
They delivered Friday.