But when the righty was backed deepest into a corner in a commanding outing, he uncorked another weapon in the arsenal: A little misdirection.
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The Phillies added two runs in the eighth when second baseman Cory Spangenberg made a throwing error on what should’ve been an inning-ending double-play grounder hit by Maikel Franco with the bases loaded.
The 16 strikeouts were the most by any pitcher so far this year, and his 25 strikeouts through his first two starts are also the most by any Phillies pitcher in their first two with the franchise in the modern era. He struck out nine Mets over six shutout innings while scattering three hits and three walks over those six scoreless frames. Velasquez responded with a strikeout, of course, ending the threat. “I thought (Cameron) Rupp was on the same page, and if he wasn’t calling heater, I was wanting a heater”.
Eickhoff (1-1) was outstanding throughout. In that one, Pomeranz gave up two earned and walked three in five innings of work.
After starting the season 0-4, the Phillies are now 4-5.
“‘Are you sure you’re good?'” Velasquez said Mackanin asked him.
“(Eickhoff) was in total command”, Mackanin said. Outstanding curveball, located everything well, went to the slider a few times. Nothing but superlatives for him today.
Eickhoff (1-1) struck out nine in seven scoreless innings.
Ryan Howard is going to have to step it up if Philly wants to do anything this season.
Brett Wallace had an RBI single with two outs in the ninth off Jeanmar Gomez, who held on for his fourth save in as many chances.
The Philadelphia Phillies third baseman drove home both runs in the 2-1 victory. Franco, up next, provided some more two-out magic by smacking a double in the gap in left-center field to score Herrera.
For a roster struggling to produce consistent offense, Franco and his. Velasquez hopped off the Citizens Bank Park mound, and it was just the beginning.
“Everything was working pretty good”, Pomeranz said.
“‘I’m good, I’m good, get me out there I’m good, ‘” Velasquez told CSN was his reply.
Eickhoff’s opposite number Rea settled in after early turbulence.
In his ninth major league start (21th appearance), the 23-year-old whiffed 16 batters, all but two of whom went down swinging. The Padres have scored 37 runs this season; 32 of them came in three games at Coors Field.
Howard provided the only offense through the first five innings with a shot over the wall just left of center to begin the second.
The Phillies, who have won four of five, entered with the big leagues’ fourth-lowest starters ERA.
It’s the third win in a row and the fifth in six games for the Phillies, which started the season on a four-game losing streak but have rallied for their first.
I like the pitching matchup here, and it should be a pretty close game-for that reason I’m a little leery of it. In any case, I like Velasquez to out-duel Pomeranz for the Phillies victory.
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The young staff is showing the promise that the front office hoped for this offseason.
