PHILADELPHIA — The tying run stood on third base. A left-handed pitcher trotted in from the visiting bullpen. Nick Castellanos waited to hit.
But in another early test for interim manager Rob Thomson, the Phillies stayed with lefty-swinging Didi Gregorius. And wouldn’t you know it, with two out in the eighth inning, Gregorius sliced a game-tying single down the first-base line on the first pitch.
The Phillies walked it off, 3-2, one inning later because this is what they do now. Rhys Hoskins roped a double to the gap in left-center field and ran all the way to first base with his arms raised above his head as Matt Vierling scored from second base with the winning run.
