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Phillies accuse Mets' Rhame of intentionally throwing at Hoskins

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The always intense New York Mets-Philadelphia Phillies rivalry might be about to boil over.

Tensions were certainly high during the closing stages of the Mets' 9-0 win at Citi Field on Tuesday. With two out in the ninth inning, Mets reliever Jacob Rhame threw behind Phillies star Rhys Hoskins' head. Although both benches leaked onto the warning track as Hoskins stared down Rhame, no melee developed.

Rhame then walked Hoskins, but not before sailing a second pitch - ball four - behind the slugger's head. That left everyone in the Phillies dugout irate, and they voiced their frustrations postgame.

"It sure looked like it to me. It damn sure did look like it," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said when asked if he thought Rhame threw at Hoskins intentionally, according to Joe Giglio of Sports Radio WIP.

"He didn't miss up-and-in or out-and-up to a lefty the rest of the inning, so I'll let you decide," added Hoskins, according to Scott Lauber of Philly.com.

Tensions have run high during the first two games of this week's series between the NL East rivals. Two Mets hitters - catcher Wilson Ramos and first baseman Pete Alonso - were plunked by the Phillies on Monday, and the lopsided score of Tuesday's game led to some speculation in the visitor's clubhouse that the pitches to Hoskins were retaliatory.

Bryce Harper, who was booed lustily by the Flushing faithful after his ejection Monday, was particularly incensed by the location of Rhame's pitches to Hoskins.

"I understand that two of their guys got hit yesterday," Harper told Lauber. "But, I mean, if it's baseball and you're going to drill somebody, at least hit him in the ass. Not in the head."

Rhame, for his part, claimed he was "just trying to work inside" during the battle with Hoskins, according to SNY.

Asked if he was surprised by Hoskins' reaction, Rhame said: "When you accidentally sail one, it's probably pretty scary. I'd get pissed, too."

The three-game series will conclude Wednesday night.

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