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Watch: Phillies' Rhys Hoskins celebrates home run vs. Braves with epic bat spike
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- Watch: Phillies' Rhys Hoskins celebrates home run vs. Braves with epic bat spike
Baseball fans have heard of a bat flip, but have you seen a bat spike?
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins triumphantly threw his bat down after hitting a three-run homer off Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider to put the Phillies up 4-0 against the defending champion Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS on Friday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
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The 394-foot shot to left field was extra special for Hoskins: It marked his first career postseason homer.
"We all know (Strider) throws hard," Hoskins said in the dugout after his home run trot. "Just got to be on the fast ball there. I was lucky to get one in the middle of the plate and down. He's tough to hit. He's tough to square up, that's why he's pitching today. I don't know after that. I don't know if my feet touched the ground."
In the third inning, Strider walked Brandon Marsh, who advanced to third on Strider's throwing error. Then, Strider gave up a run-scoring double to Bryson Stott. The Braves intentionally walked Kyle Schwarber , setting Hoskins up for a three-run homer the first pitch of his at bat.
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Hoskins has struggled at the plate this postseason, going 1-for-18 entering Friday's game.
"Just trying to win a game here, regardless of what I'm doing," Hoskins said. "The Phillies are winning games and that's why were here... We have a lot of game to play, but it's nice to be on top."
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the 3rd inning in game three of the NLDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park.
The Braves pulled Strider from the game after he allowed a single from J.T. Realmuto . The Braves' Jackson Stephens took the mound afterwards, but the Phillies scoring didn't stop.
Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run on the first pitch of the at bat to put the Phillies up 6-0. Afterwards, Harper said, "I know (Stephens) likes his heaters, so we're ready for it."
The Phillies went on to a 9-1 win to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rhys Hoskins' epic bat flip: Phillies slugger hits home run vs. Braves
