By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PITTSBURGH — The Philadelphia Phillies (15-24) and RHP Vince Velasquez will look for continued success against RHP Ivan Nova and the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-24) in a Saturday matinee at PNC Park.
In the 7-2 series opener victory, veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson earned his fifth win of the season. Hellickson yielded just two runs (one earned) on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts, but left the game early with back tightness after his RBI double in the top of the seventh. He was at just 84 pitches and 52 strikes.
The Phillies' offense combined for 10 hits, with third baseman Maikel Franco and shortstop Freddy Galvis leading the way with two each. Catcher Cameron Rupp hit a three-run home run in the ninth to put the game out of reach, in the process raising his season RBI total (12) by 33 percent.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (15-24) | Pittsburgh Pirates (18-24) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Vince Velasquez | RHP | Ivan Nova | ||
| (2-3, 5.63 ERA) | (3-3, 2.48 ERA) | ||||
Velasquez Career vs. PIT: 0-0, 6.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, HR, 4 BB, 5 SO, 1.833 WHIP
In three road starts this season, Velasquez, 24, has allowed seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits, nine walks and 11 strikeouts spanning 16 innings. The right-hander has allowed at least one home run in all but one of his seven starts, his most recent appearance on May 14 at Nationals Park.
Velasquez's only career start against the Pirates came in the Phillies' 5-4 defeat on July 24 of last season at PNC Park.
Nova Career vs. PHI: 1-0, 0.71 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 2/3 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 12 SO, 0.868 WHIP
Spanning two career starts against the Phillies — June 24, 2015 with the New York Yankees and Sept. 13, 2016 with the Pirates — Nova has surrendered just two extra-base hits through 12 2/3 innings.
This season, the 30-year-old has tossed at least six innings in each of his eight starts, allowing no more than four runs and two walks. The Dominican Republic native will make his first home start since April 23, with each of his last four outings (1-1, 2.96 ERA) coming on the road.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (15-24) | Pittsburgh Pirates (18-24) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Adam Frazier | L |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | 2B | Josh Harrison | R |
| 3 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R | 3 | CF | Andrew McCutchen | R |
| 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 4 | 1B | Josh Bell | S |
| 5 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 5 | 3B | David Freese | R |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | RF | John Jaso | L |
| 7 | RF | Michael Saunders | L | 7 | C | Francisco Cervelli | R |
| 8 | R | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R |
| 9 | R | Vince Velasquez | R | 9 | P | Ivan Nova | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 4:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
NL East Standings (entering May 20, 2017)
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 25 | 16 | — | 4-6 | L3 | 12-7 | 13-9 |
| Atlanta Braves | 17 | 22 | 7.0 | 6-4 | W1 | 7-9 | 10-13 |
| New York Mets | 17 | 23 | 7.5 | 3-7 | W1 | 9-12 | 8-11 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 15 | 24 | 9.0 | 3-7 | W1 | 8-8 | 7-16 |
| Miami Marlins | 14 | 27 | 11.0 | 1-9 | L5 | 6-14 | 8-13 |
What's Next:
- Sunday, May 21, 2017: at Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:35 p.m.
- PNC Park
- RHP Aaron Nola (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Chad Kuhl (1-4, 6.69 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
