Velasquez can’t do it again, lit up by Mets

By: Theo DeRosa, contributor

Final: Mets 11, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Just like last Thursday, Vince Velasquez started and ended his outing with a strikeout. 

There was only one problem. Well, technically, two. He gave up two home runs. 

Velasquez allowed a two-run homer to Michael Conforto in the first inning and a three-run shot to Yoenis Céspedes in the third. He didn't have his electric stuff on Tuesday night, striking out just four (compared to 16 last week) and going only 4.1 innings. 

Brett Oberholtzer solidified the Mets' win by giving up three home runs in the sixth and seventh innings,

For the ninth straight game, the Phillies' offense couldn't manage more than three runs. They were dominated by Logan Verrett and three Mets' relievers, losing the game 11-1 and losing the series to the Mets. 

WP: Logan Verrett (1-0, 0.69 ERA)  ❖  LP: Vince Velasquez (2-1, 0.93 ERA)  ❖  


Hub:   Game Summary      Starting Pitchers     At the Plate      Bullpen      What's Next


Game Summary

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
NYM 2 0 3 0 0 1 3 2 0 11 12 0
PHI
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 9 1

 The Phillies' pitching in the first inning in recent games has essentially put them at a permanent disadvantage for the rest of the game. As the offense, featuring light-hitting players like Tyler Goeddel and Peter Bourjos, can't be relied on to support a worse-than-average starting pitching performance, allowing multiple runs before the Phillies even get a chance to bat nearly makes the game over by the end of a half-inning.

Velasquez's start today proved no exception to the now-dreaded first inning. After a David Wright double, Michael Conforto hit a low 0-2 curveball just over the right-field fence to put the Mets up 2-0.

The Phillies threatened in both the first and second innings, leaving Odubel Herrera on third in the former and runners on first and second in the latter without scoring.

New York essentially put the game away with Yoenis Céspedes' three-run homer in the fifth, again off a Velasquez 0-2 breaking ball. The runs were unearned, though, thanks to an error by Ryan Howard, who couldn't make the catch on a slightly wild throw by Freddy Galvis. Logan Verrett, the Mets' starter, reached base and later scored on Cespedes' blast.

Verrett scattered six hits over six innings, striking out four. He was pitching in the stead of Jacob deGrom, who has missed his last two starts. 

Brett Oberholtzer helped the Mets build up an even bigger lead, giving up three home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to give the Mets a 9-0 lead. James Russell added to that by ceding a two-run blast to Curtis Granderson in the eighth to make it 11-0.

The Phils did get one run back, as Ryan Howard's single scored Odubel Herrera from second in the bottom of the eighth. 

Jim Henderson, Rafael Montero, and Hansel Robles pitched the seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively, for the Mets. 

Tomorrow is the third straight 7:05 p.m. start, and the last game of this series against the Mets. The Phillies wrap up their ten-game homestand as Jeremy Hellickson takes on Bartolo Colón. 

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Starting Pitchers

  IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Logan Verrett 6.0 6 0 0 1 4 0 0.69
Vince Velasquez 4.1 5 5 2 0 4 2 0.93

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At the Plate

Mets

  • Neil Walker: 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, .245 AVG
  • Yoenis Céspedes: 1-3, 2 R, HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI, .286 AVG
  • Michael Conforto: 2-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, .316 AVG
  • Lucas Duda: 1-5, R, HR, 2 RBI, .229 AVG

Phillies

  • Ryan Howard: 1-4, RBI, .205 AVG
  • Andres Blanco: 2-3, .353 AVG
  • Cameron Rupp: 2-4, 2B, .286 AVG

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Bullpen

Mets

  • Jim Henderson (7th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 1.69 ERA
  • Rafael Montero (8th): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 11.57 ERA
  • Hansel Robles (9th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 1.35 ERA

Phillies

  • Elvis Araujo (5th): 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 3.00 ERA 
  • Brett Oberholtzer (6th): 2.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO, 3 HR, 7.71 ERA
  • James Russell (8th): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 18.69 ERA
  • Dalier Hinojosa (9th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 HR, 2.70 ERA

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What's Next

  • Wednesday, April 20, 2016: vs. New York Mets, 7:05 p.m.
    • Philadelphia, PA — Citizens Bank Park
    • RHP Bartolo Colón (1-1, 2.13 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 4.30)
    • TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP

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