Phillies Beat Brewers as Velasquez Earns Win in Relief

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

With help from the recently recalled Vince Velasquez out of the bullpen — and their six extra-base hits — the Philadelphia Phillies (30-21) defeated the Milwaukee Brewers (29-23), 6-4, in Friday evening’s three-game series opener at Miller Park.

Velasquez improved to 2-2, while Hector Neris struck out the side in the ninth, closing out his ninth save in as many opportunities. Overall, the Phillies bullpen went six innings and allowed just three hits, no runs and one walk while striking out 10 batters. The Phillies have won six of their last eight games.

The Phillies and Brewers did not waste time to score, after combining for 39 runs in their recent four-game series, May 13-16 at Citizens Bank Park. Both clubs exchanged runs in the first. Andrew McCutchen needed just two pitches to extend his hitting streak to six games, doubling to right center against Brewers starter Chase Anderson. Two batters later, Bryce Harper hit a sacrifice fly RBI to left, his 33rd RBI in a Phillies uniform. Unlike the McCutchen reaching with no outs, the Brewers recorded two outs in their offensive half of the first before Ryan Braun and Mike Moustakas hit back-to-back hits, the latter a RBI double.

The Phillies answered back in the second, as Cesar Hernandez and Scott Kingery hit back-to-back doubles, regaining the 2-1 lead. Kingery’s RBI was his first since April 17, eight appearances ago. Like the first inning, Milwaukee responded with a run of their own in the latter half. With two outs, Brewers No. 8 hitter Orlando Arcia hit a solo home run to center, his fifth.

Playing in his 45th game of 2019, reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich extended his MLB lead in home runs with a solo shot to right in the third, his 20th. Yelich did not hit his 20th home run last season until his 111th game on August 20. Yasmani Grandal later laced a RBI double to deep right center to score Moustakas and give the Brewers a 4-2 advantage.

Maikel Franco trimmed the Phillies’ deficit in half the next-half inning with a two-out RBI infield single to Arcia. Franco bailed out Hernandez and Kingery, who each failed to bring home the run in the two at-bats prior; Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto began the frame with back-to-back singles. An inning later, Harper tied the game at four with a RBI double, his second RBI of the game and 34th this season. The Phillies nearly scored more runs later on in the inning with Harper and Hoskins (walk) on base, but Lorenzo Cain crashed against the center field wall to rob Hernandez of an extra-base, RBI hit.

Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff was pulled after a season-low three innings of work on 77 pitches and 45 strikes; he allowed four runs — all earned — while allowing five hits, one walk and two home runs. The right-hander struck out just one of his 15 batters faced.

Velasquez made his eight appearance of the season (first as a starter) with a two-scoreless-inning relief appearance in the fifth and sixth innings. Immediately after entering the game, the right-hander allowed Yelich (walk) and Braun (single) to reach to put runners on the corners with no outs; Velasquez the struck out Moustakas and Grandal stealing, and caught Yelich stealing home to end the Brewers scoring threat. Velasquez retired the order in the sixth, in cluding striking out Keston Hiura and Arcia, both swinging.

Edgar Garcia (4th), Seranthony Dominguez (7th), Adam Morgan (8th) and Neris (9th) also tossed scoreless innings.

The Phillies took a 5-4 lead in the sixth thanks to McCutchen’s RBI, game-winning double to left, his second double of the game and 12th of the season. An inning later, Hoskins provided an insurance run by slugging his first home run — and first extra-base hit overall — since May 7, a solo shot.

Game Notes:

• Against his former club, Jean Segura extended his MLB-best hitting streak to 15 games with a one-out single in the fifth. Segura logged 478 games with the Brewers from 2012 to 2015.
• Velasquez’s outing was his third career relief appearance in a Phillies uniform since 2016, and the 15th of his overall 97-appearance career dating back to 2015 with the Houston Astros.
• Velasquez was activated prior to the game; RHP Drew Anderson was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley as the corresponding move.
• Neris notched his 12th straight save dating back to last season.

What’s Next:

• Saturday, May 25, 2019: at Milwaukee Brewers, 4:10 p.m.
  • Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • RHP Jake Arrieta (4-4, 3.77 ERA) vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (3-5, 4.65 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP