Sosa Provides Big Lift In Phillies Win

When the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Edmundo Sosa last season, it didn’t exactly shake the Major League Baseball transaction wire.

It might turn out to be one of the best acquisitions over the last few seasons.

Sosa had been dealing with a balky back.

But he returned to the lineup Friday and catapulted the Phillies to a much-needed 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Sosa hit the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning as Jurickson Profar trapped the ball in shallow left field. J.T. Realmuto scored with two outs and the Phillies improved to 9-12.

Then in the bottom of the ninth, Sosa recorded the final two outs at third base. The second out came when he lunged to grab a sharp line drive from C.J. Cron.

Kyle Schwarber also had two hits including a mammoth solo home run in the seven which tied the game at 3.

Aaron Nola responded after giving up a three-run home run to Ryan McMahon in the first and tossed seven solid innings. Nola allowed four hits, struck out three and walked three. It was a season-high in innings pitched for Nola.

Seranthony Dominguez, who had been dealing with control issues, pitched a scoreless eighth and Jose Alvarado threw a scoreless ninth for his third save in four opportunities.

It was a much-needed win after losing 5-0 on Thursday.

The Phillies will send Cristopher Sanchez to the mound for his season debut to face Colorado’s Kyle Freeland on Saturday. Sanchez has been sidelined all season with a triceps injury.