PHILADELPHIA - The Phillies replayed highlights from Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and Pete Rose and all the big plays from the 1980 World Series championship team on the big screen.
The occasion was a celebration of the first World Series winner in franchise history, yes, but it couldn't help but serve as a reminder of just what might lie ahead for this year's team.The Phillies noticed.
Ace Zack Wheeler sought out Carlton for photos and autographed baseballs. Others hung over the dugout rail with as much interest in the festivities as the fans who actually remembered the 1980 parade."It was super cool to see," rookie Darick Hall said. "It's crazy to think that those guys were us not too long ago, doing the same thing we're doing."These days, that means win.Hall hit two home runs and Nick Maton and Rhys Hoskins each hit two-run homers to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a four-game sweep of the Washington Nationals with a 13-1 win on Sunday.Maton drove in four runs, Bryson Stott had three RBIs and the Phillies scored five runs in the fourth and eighth innings.Aaron Nola (8-8) struck out five and allowed one run in six innings to put the Phillies (60-48) 12 games over .500 for the first time since August 2018.The Phillies failed to make the playoffs that season, part of a postseason drought that has lasted since 2011.
But on a day when the Phillies honored the 1980 World Series champions, this year’s homer-happy team showed that perhaps the longest playoff absence in the National League might finally end.They are 10-1 since July 27."It's nothing against the teams we've had here in the past," Hoskins said, "but I think we have a better team."Hall hit a pair of solo homers against Washington starter Cory Abbott (0-1) to play.