By Theo DeRosa, contributor 
Final: Phillies 7, Royals 2
PHILADELPHIA—Cameron Rupp's opposite-field three-run homer in the first inning put the Phillies ahead for good as they took two out of three from the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
Rupp drove a high 98-mph fastball from Yordano Ventura just over the right-field wall with two runners on to jump-start the Phillies' offense in the first inning. Cody Asche followed with a shot to the second deck in the third; his blast, and an injury, chased the Kansas City starter.
WP: Vince Velasquez (7-2, 3.38) ❖ LP: Yordano Ventura (6-6, 5.26)
Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| KC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| PHI |
3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | X | 7 | 11 | 0 |
Vince Velasquez, making his second start since coming off the DL, looked for a while like he might be headed back on it. After a 90-mph fastball, only his fifth pitch of the game, Rupp signaled to trainers to check on his pitcher. Velasquez, though, stayed in, and gradually brought his velocity back up. He reached 93 in the first, and a high of 96 in the fourth inning. Despite a 24-pitch first inning, Velasquez managed to go six innings allowing just two runs.
Yordano Ventura was not so lucky, as Rupp's three-run shot came with two strikes and two outs in the first on a pitch out of the zone. In the top of the third, Ventura got his second career hit, but twisted his ankle on the next play as he tried in vain to avoid a tag from César Hernández as part of a 4-3 double play. He got through two outs in the third, but in clear pain; Asche's deep homer to the second deck in right chased Ventura from the game.
Dillon Gee, who has been basically owned by the Phillies since Gee pitched for the Mets, relieved Ventura, who was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain. Ryan Howard, who owned an 11-26 line against Gee with seven home runs coming into the game, went 1-for-1 with a single against him.
After a long at-bat from Drew Butera resulted in a walk, Alex Gordon hit a two-run shot against Velasquez in the fifth to cut the lead in half.
The Phils got another run in the bottom of the fifth, as Gee allowed a one-out single to Odubel Herrera and a walk to Peter Bourjos. Cody Asche moved both runners over with a groundout to first, then Maikel Franco's swinging bunt found space up the third-base line to score Herrera and make it 5–2.
Vince Velasquez threw 96 pitches through six innings, allowing just the two runs. Edubray Ramos replaced him for the seventh, pitching a scoreless frame.
Franco padded the lead in the eighth with a solo shot to left center field. Freddy Galvis singled in Rupp later in the inning to make it 7–2.
Hector Neris and Jeanmar Gomez finished it out for the Phillies, who have won five of their last six games.
The Phillies will don their red, white and blue Independence Day uniforms for Monday's series opener against the Atlanta Braves. Jerad Eickhoff will battle Joel De La Cruz at 4:05 p.m.
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vince Velasquez | 6.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3.34 |
| Yordano Ventura | 2.2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5.26 |
Phillies
- Cameron Rupp: 2-4, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, .288 AVG
- Maikel Franco: 3-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, .258 AVG
- Cody Asche: 1-4, R, HR, RBI, .286 AVG
Royals
- Alex Gordon: 2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, .215 AVG
- Eric Hosmer: 1-4, .303 AVG
- Drew Butera: 0-3, R, BB, .286 AVG
Bullpen
Royals
- Dillon Gee (3rd): 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 4.05 ERA
- Brian Flynn (6th): 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 3.00 ERA
Phillies
- Edubray Ramos (7th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO, 0 HR, 1.59 ERA
- Hector Neris (8th): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR, 2.66 ERA
- Jeanmar Gomez (9th): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 2.75 ERA
What's Next
- Monday, July 4, 2016: vs. Atlanta Braves, 4:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (5-9, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Joel De La Cruz (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
