HOUSTON — The Phillies barely had anything to play for on Tuesday, and after it became official that they would face the Cardinals on Friday in an NL wild-card series, they had even less to play for in Game 162 on Wednesday. The Astros clinched their playoff spot on Sept. 16. The impossibly low stakes allowed for a bit of levity, which came in the top of the eighth inning of a 3-2 Houston victory.
With one out, infielder Nick Maton stepped up to the plate. His older brother, Astros reliever Phil Maton, was on the mound. It was the first time the two players had faced each other in their big league careers.
With a slight grin on his face, the younger Maton took five pitches, launching the sixth, a four-seam fastball right down the middle of the plate, into right field for a single. When he reached first base, he started laughing at his brother, who begrudgingly cracked a smile.
