Phillies’ Spencer Howard called up Wednesday, picks up four key outs in victory over Giants

Just in case there was a doubt that Spencer Howard can help the Phillies’ pitching staff in a relief role, let the seventh and eighth innings Wednesday serve as Exhibits A and B.

Howard, recalled from the Lehigh Valley alternate training site before the series finale against the San Francisco Giants, extinguished a two-on, two-out situation in the seventh inning by getting Buster Posey to foul out. Then, he struck out the side in the eighth inning, hitting 98 mph with his fastball.

“It seemed like he knew he had that in there, and we were just going to keep throwing it,” catcher Andrew Knapp said. “That thing was coming out hot. I don’t know if it’s firmer than when I caught him in the past, but it definitely had a little more zip coming in there and he looked more confident for sure.”

Because Howard missed time in each of the last two seasons with shoulder issues, the Phillies are being conservative with his workload. Although they still view him as a starter down the road, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said they will treat him more like a reliever this season.

Howard was called up ostensibly to take Vince Velasquez’s spot as a long reliever. Velasquez is scheduled to start Friday night in Colorado in place of lefty Matt Moore, who was put on the COVID-19 injury list earlier this week.

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But if Howard’s velocity remains in the upper-90s and he continues to get late-inning outs, the Phillies could see a higher-leverage role for him out of the bullpen.

“Whatever they throw at me, I’m happy to do,” Howard said. “At this point I kind of just want innings wherever they are. I just want to field more stuff in the game. Be it starting or relief, I’m just looking for innings.”

The Phillies placed second baseman Jean Segura on the 10-day injured list after an MRI revealed what manager Joe Girardi characterized as a “lower grade” strain of the right quadriceps. Segura was injured while running out a grounder to shortstop Tuesday night.

In what is likely to be a short-term move until Ronald Torreyes returns from the COVID-19 injured list, the Phillies called up Scott Kingery from the alternate site.

The Phillies bypassed Kingery for two recent promotions because they want him to continue to get at-bats in Lehigh Valley to fix his wayward swing. He entered Wednesday’s game as a pinch-hitter and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

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Segura’s injury comes at an unfortunate time. He had been one of the few productive hitters in the lineup recently, with 15 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

But the Phillies also have several options to fill in for him. Brad Miller started at second base Wednesday and picked up four hits. With shortstop Didi Gregorius expected to return Friday night in Colorado after missing three games with a sore right elbow, Nick Maton might be Girardi’s first choice to play at second.

Maton was impressive while filling in for Gregorius. He went 5-for-12 with a double and an RBI, and demonstrated solid range up the middle at shortstop.

“Nick has played great,” Girardi said. “I don’t think you can say enough about what Nick has done filling in for Didi. He’s played really good defense. He’s swung the bat well. The game has not sped up for him.”

Rookie center fielder Mickey Moniak said the Phillies were able to retrieve the ball from his first major league homer, a three-run shot in the second inning Wednesday. “I noticed [the fans who caught the ball] had two little kids. One was trying to eat it,” Moniak said. “I’m just glad it’s intact. And I’m very grateful that they gave it back.” ... After a day off Thursday, the Phillies will open a series Friday night in Colorado. Velasquez will be opposed by Rockies right-hander German Marquez.