PHILADELPHIA _ The final month of the Phillies' season has seemed to create enough optimism to erase the doubts that festered this summer about the team's future when they were willowing through June and July. And it was four of those reasons that took charge on Wednesday night in the fifth inning of a 7-5 win over the Nationals.
Nick Williams reached on a fielder's choice. Rhys Hoskins walked. Aaron Altherr rocked a two-run triple with a lumbering Hoskins sliding safely to tie the game. Then Odubel Herrera _ who seemed to be written off this summer as the team struggled before he too found himself _ smashed a go-ahead double.
Those four batters, the ones who rallied the Phillies on Wednesday, are projected to be the heart of next season's lineup. Just one of them, Herrera, started this season's opener. The tide of the season began to shift in late June when Altherr played so well that the Phillies had to cut ties with Michael Saunders. The shifting continued when Williams reached the majors a week later. And a month later _ when Hoskins arrived _ was when the season turned and the optimism poured.
The Phillies will finish off the season this weekend with three games against the Mets. They will then pack their bags for the offseason and empty their clubhouse stalls. And that optimism _ the feeling that overtook this team for the last month _ will follow them to spring training. The Phillies will have a legitimate lineup _ no more one-year rentals to plug holes as we wait for the prospects to arrive _ when they start the season in Atlanta. That's enough reason for optimism.
The three-run fifth followed Washington's own three-run fifth as they chased Mark Leiter Jr. after 41/3 innings. The right-hander ended his season with five earned runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Leiter, a 22nd-round pick in 2013, began his season in minor-league spring training. He ended it by throwing the fifth-most innings (902/3) by any Phillies pitcher. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out 84 batters and registered a 4.96 ERA in 27 appearances.
Leiter showed some flashes this season and also took his lumps, like he did on Wednesday night. He could report to spring training with a chance at a rotation role, but his future seems to be in the bullpen as a long reliever. Leiter flourished there this season before he was needed as a starter. Mackanin said before Wednesday's game that he liked the pitcher as a long man.
The bullpen impressed again. Yacksel Rios, Hoby Milner, Victor Arano, and Luis Garcia combined for 42/3 scoreless innings. The unit _ which tossed four perfect innings on Tuesday _ has compiled a 2.52 ERA over its last 30 games. It is the fourth-best mark in the majors over that span. The Phillies will add some relief arms this winter to add to what is shaping up to be a strong group.
Jorge Alfaro, another reason for optimism, hit a two-run double in the second. He finished 2 for 3. Altherr went 2 for 4. Hoskins reached base three times and scored two runs. Herrera had two hits. He jumped on a chest-high fastball and stroked it up the middle. The ball rolled to the foot of the warning track and Herrera sprinted to second. Altherr was safe and the rally was complete. Herrera slid, popped up, pounded his waist and pointed to the dugout. The optimism felt real.
