ATLANTA _ Dallas Keuchel did not need to even turn around on Tuesday night to know where his grooved two-seam fastball was headed.
Six days earlier, Keuchel said the Phillies' front-office should be second-guessing themselves for not signing him after he dominated their lineup at Citizens Bank Park. But Tuesday night, it was Keuchel who was doing the second-guessing in the fourth inning of a 5-4 Phillies win as he turned his back to Rhys Hoskins' opposite-field homer.
The Phillies scored five runs against Keuchel in the fourth inning at SunTrust Park, allowing their slim wild-card dreams to live on. Hoskins hit a two-run homer, Scott Kingery scored on a ground out by Cesar Hernandez, and Jose Pirela hit a two-run homer for his first major-league homer since last September.
Vince Velasquez pitched five innings and five relievers combined for 12 outs. Hector Neris allowed a leadoff homer in the ninth and put the tying run on third base, but held on.
It was a strong start to an 11-game road trip, but the Phillies will need more than just one good night to buck the odds and reach October. They entered Tuesday trailing the Cubs by five games for the National League's second wild-card with 11 left to play.
Keuchel, who allowed five runs Tuesday night in five innings, struck out eight batters last week in South Philly while allowing just one run in six innings. He signed a one-year deal with the Braves in June after every other team passed on him. The Phillies could have used the left-hander this season as their starting rotation has a 4.71 ERA since Keuchel debuted with the Braves. Take away Aaron Nola _ the only pitcher Keuchel could not replace _ and that mark is nearly a run higher.
But starting pitching was not the Phillies' problem on Tuesday night. Velasquez outpitched Keuchel and settled in after allowing two runs in the first inning. He allowed just the two runs in five innings, struck out eight, walked two, and allowed five hits. It was a fine night.
"I think Vince has established himself as a guy who can stick at the back end of a rotation and give you five, six innings when he's right," manager Gabe Kapler said before the game. "I think he's established himself as credible in that role for two years straight. I think there's still a tremendous amount of upside there and I don't think he's done developing by any stretch. I think with some continued development he could earn an even more impactful role. And I think we have a lot to learn. He's got three starts left."
The Phillies had just one hit against Keuchel through three innings and it was a single by Velasquez. Tuesday night was starting to feel a lot like last week. But then Bryce Harper reached on an infield single with one out in the fourth.
Hoskins followed with his first opposite-field homer of the season. Four batters later, the Phillies had five runs against the pitcher they could not figure out just six days earlier.
Keuchel may have been second-guessing himself on Tuesday night, but he can take comfort in knowing that he'll likely be soaked sometime this week in champagne as the Braves celebrate their all-but-clinched division title. They can wrap up their second-straight National League East crown before the Phillies leave town. If so, it will be the second straight year the Phillies have to watch the Braves celebrate.
The Phillies beat Keuchel on Tuesday, but he's the one with the ticket for October. And if the Phillies miss the playoffs, they'll have plenty of time to second-guess themselves.
