There could come a time when the Phillies begin to look toward a new season instead of the next game. They could roll with lineups favoring players they need to learn more about, and shy from the veterans they acquired this summer. They could ease up on their young starting pitchers, end their seasons early, and allow them extra time to recover. The Phillies could start 2019 a bit early.
But Friday night — as the Phillies rocked the Marlins, 14-2, to keep their slim playoff hopes alive — was not that time. Aaron Altherr homered twice, Rhys Hoskins hit his 31st home run of the year, Mitch Walding homered off a position player for his first major-league hit, and Zach Eflin reached the seventh inning.