PHILADELPHIA - Rhys Hoskins burst out of his postseason malaise with a three-run homer and spiked his bat in triumph and Bryce Harper hit a two-run shot that sent Philadelphia Phillies fever soaring and helped carry them to a 9-1 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NL Division Series on Friday night.Harper added an RBI double as Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five matchup against the reigning World Series champs.
The Phillies can advance to the NL Championship Series with a Game 4 win at home on Saturday.The Phillies and a sellout crowd of 45,538 fans waited 11 mostly miserable years -- 4,025 days, to be exact -- to host a playoff game again at Citizens Bank Park.Phillies fans should save the rally towels -- the Phillies played like a team that wants to keep Red October aliveThe bats erupted in a six-run third inning that will forever be stamped on a Philly sports highlight reel.
Bryson Stott got the rally going with an RBI double off Braves rookie Spencer Strider. Kyle Schwarber drew an intentional walk to set the stage for Hoskins.Hoskins, mired in a 1-for-19 postseason slump, crushed a 94 mph fastball into the left field seats for a 4-0 lead.
Hoskins raised his arms in celebration, slammed his bat into the grass and he skipped his way to first base.The exit velocity?