MILWAUKEE -- It feels like one of Rob Thomson’s early tests as Phillies interim manager will be finding a good time to give Bryson Stott a day off.

Stott singled twice, doubled and homered for a career-high four hits in Wednesday night’s 10-0 victory over the Brewers at American Family Field. Stott has homered three times in five games as the Phillies improved to 5-0 under Thomson, who became the first Phils manager to win his first five games since Pat Moran in 1915, when the franchise won its first NL pennant. Thomson is the first manager to win his first five games with any team since Jim Leyland did so with the 2006 Tigers, who won the AL pennant.

“These guys are playing well,” Thomson said.

They are playing their best baseball of the season since Thomson replaced Joe Girardi on Friday.

Maybe the change woke up everybody. Maybe it is just a coincidence.

“It’s hard to say, right?” Kyle Schwarber said. “Obviously, Joe’s not here because we didn’t win. We weren’t winning. Obviously, there’s that reality right in the middle of your face, right? But man, we’ve got to do better. We’ve got to find a way to win games. You can say it. You don’t have to say it. I think it’s just reality just staring us in the face. It’s on us to change that. I feel like we’ve been doing a really good job of not letting anything negative affect us. We’re coming in with a positive mindset every day and we’re having fun. That’s the main goal: We’re going to keep having fun, win or lose.”

It is easy to have fun when they are playing like this. Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing four hits. Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer. Stott and Rhys Hoskins each hit two-run homers. Odúbel Herrera hit a solo homer.

Schwarber and Stott each had four hits.

“Winning breeds [confidence] and these guys are playing well in all phases,” Thomson said.

Thomson has showed confidence in Stott, who has started seven consecutive games for the first time in his career. He is batting .385 (10-for-26) with two doubles, three homers, eight RBIs and a 1.236 OPS in that stretch.

“Obviously, it helps getting those at-bats every day and kind of just grinding through it,” Stott said. “Just getting more comfortable and being more relaxed.”

Stott had only 31 plate appearances in the season’s first 16 games before he was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on April 25. He rejoined the Phillies on May 7, when Didi Gregorius landed on the 10-day IL. Stott played three consecutive games, then played intermittently until last week. He started in Girardi’s final two games as manager. He has started every game under Thomson.

“It takes a while for some guys just to get comfortable being up here,” Thomson said. “It’s a different type of pitching. A lot more quality pitching. You’ve got to make adjustments and he’s starting to make adjustments.”

Thomson was most proud of Stott’s two-strike approach. Stott’s third-inning homer, fifth-inning single and seventh-inning double came with two strikes. He has been working on that approach with hitting coach Kevin Long.

Essentially, Stott is spreading out more and shortening up his swing to try to better protect the plate.

“At first, it felt weird,” Stott said. “I’ve never not had a toe tap or a leg kick. It’s getting comfortable.”

Sure enough, Stott’s three two-strike hits came without a toe tap.

The toe tap was back when he swung at a 2-1 slider from Brewers reliever Luke Barker in the ninth. Stott needed a triple to become the first Phillies player to hit for the cycle since David Bell in 2004 against the Expos.

“Yeah, for sure,” Stott said, when asked if he was thinking about a triple.

He instead hit the ball back to Barker, but he reached safely for a single.

He will take it. The Phillies will, too. Stott is not here to be the team's savior. He just needs to contribute. If he continues to contribute like this, the Phillies will lengthen their lineup and become more challenging for opposing pitching staffs.

“Everything is kind of clicking right now,” Stott said. “We’re having a lot of fun. That’s the biggest thing. I think we were kind of … not mad all the time, but it was a little different. But it’s been tons of fun. Everyone is having fun and everyone is smiling.”