PHILADELPHIA -- Though the 2017 playoffs are out of the picture for the Philadelphia Phillies, that doesn't mean they can't show they're capable of hanging with those who will be extending their seasons into October.

Trying to lock down a division championship of their own, the Los Angeles Dodgers are finding that out the hard way.

In a game that certainly had a postseason feel, with two tough pitchers dueling it out on the mound in front of a Citizens Bank Park crowd more lively than it had been in months, Rhys Hoskins delivered a bases-clearing, two-out double in the seventh inning, lifting the Phillies past the Dodgers 6-2 on Tuesday evening in the second of a four-game series.

The Phillies won the opener 4-3 on Monday night.

"It's a great way to start the series," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "The guys have come alive."

After losing 16 of 17 games from Aug. 26 through Sept. 11, the Dodgers (96-55) seemed to have righted the ship last week, winning four straight on the road against the Giants and Nationals. But the team with the best record in the majors has lost their last three games, including two straight against the team with the second-worst record in the majors.

"Teams that have nothing to play for but are trying to establish themselves, those are dangerous teams," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "They're gutty and they play hard."

To be fair, the Phillies (60-91) certainly haven't played like their record of late.

Since Aug. 18, when they bottomed out at 34 games below .500 (44-77, .364), the Phillies are a respectable 17-14 (.548), which would put them right in the NL wild- card race if extrapolated out for a whole season.

Part of that is certainly due to the bat of Hoskins, who has done nothing but impress since his call-up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley early in August.

Tuesday was yet another stellar night at the plate for the 24-year-old first baseman. Hoskins went 2-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs, raising his average to .299 with 43 RBIs (and 18 home runs) in his first 39 career games.

Batting with one out in the seventh inning after Odubel Herrera drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 2-2, Hoskins worked a 10-pitch at-bat against Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez (3-6) before shooting a 97 mph fastball through the gap in left-center to break the game open.

"What he does, he's not going to get himself out," Mackanin said. "He's not going to expand the strike zone, which makes him a good hitter. I'm glad we have him."

That delivered a win for the Phillies and starter Aaron Nola (12-10), who was strong over seven innings. Nola gave up two runs (both earned) on five hits while striking out eight batters against two walks, throwing 64 of his 94 pitches for strikes.

In his last two starts -- both wins -- Nola has given up three earned runs in 14 innings with 19 strikeouts.

Phillies left fielder Aaron Altherr added his 18th home run of the season in the eighth inning to cap off the scoring.

With the loss, the Dodgers' magic number to clinch the National League West remains at three. That is pending the result of second-place Arizona's game at San Diego later Tuesday evening.

The Dodgers have already clinched a playoff spot.

"You're trying to win a baseball game but also trying to figure out how you can win 11 games in October, and how you can construct a playoff roster," Roberts said. "If we were in a different situation in the standings, I think that I might have acted differently."

Dodgers starter Yu Darvish, acquired from the Texas Rangers on July 31 for a trio of prospects, received a no-decision, allowing four hits and one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven and issuing one walk.

The Phillies chased the four-time All-Star right-hander in the sixth inning when Hoskins singled home Cesar Hernandez, cutting the Dodgers' lead to 2-1.

"Yu was really good tonight, he was working to both inside part of the plate, the outside part of the plate," Roberts said. "Even in that last inning he touched 96 (mph)."

NOTES: The start of the game was delayed 29 minutes due to rain. ... Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal's third-inning home run made him the sixth Dodger with 20 home runs this season. It's the first time in franchise history that six Dodgers have reached that mark in the same year. ... The Phillies are now 6-12 at home against the Dodgers since 2012. ... Wednesday night's game, the third in the four-game series, will pit Phillies RHP Jake Thompson (2-2, 4.46 ERA) against Dodgers LHP Alex Wood (15-3, 2.69).