Vince Velasquez cruises after rough start in rehab outing
READING - Wednesday night did not exactly begin the way Vince Velasquez had planned. The Phillies pitcher forgot to retrieve his toll ticket when entering the Pennsylvania Turnpike en route to Reading for a rehab start. He was required upon exiting to pay the maximum fee. Velasquez then allowed a home run to the first batter he faced at double-A Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium.
READING - Wednesday night did not exactly begin the way Vince Velasquez had planned.
The Phillies pitcher forgot to retrieve his toll ticket when entering the Pennsylvania Turnpike en route to Reading for a rehab start. He was required upon exiting to pay the maximum fee. Velasquez then allowed a home run to the first batter he faced at double-A Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium.
It was a frustrating start, but Velasquez recovered. The righthander gave up just one more hit and threw 76 pitches in five innings of a 4-1 win against Akron. He hopes it is the only rehab start he needs before heading back to the majors. Velasquez struck out three batters and walked one.
The righthander had not seen action in two weeks after he was placed on the disabled list with a strained right biceps. He threw just two pitches on June 8 before leaving his start early. Velasquez needed time to regain his form.
"Everything was working pretty good," Velasquez said. "I feel fine. Everything seems like it's back to normal. Everything felt good. I was on."
Velasquez showed better command as he pitched deeper into the game. Velasquez threw 10 of his first 21 pitches for balls. He then regained his command and fired 15 of his next 20 pitches for strikes. He finished with 51 strikes on 76 pitches. His fastball showed life as it reached 97 mph.
Velasquez had struggled in his last few starts before he was placed on the disabled list. He had a 4.86 ERA in nine starts after he struck out 16 in a shutout on April. Velasquez said he needed to figure out what was wrong. His time away from the majors offered a respite. His first full season in the big leagues had been taxing. A break seemed warranted.
"Just to gather up everything - mentally and physically," Velasquez said. "It gave me a little break on my arm. I'll probably get another start in before the all-star break, one or two maybe. Then take that week off and get ready for the next half."
Velasquez said he feels he can pitch in the majors in five days. That would fall on Adam Morgan's turn in the rotation, and the lefty seems most likely to be replaced by Velasquez.
The Phillies could have different plans. Velasquez could make a rehab start on Monday in either Reading or Lehigh Valley. Velasquez does not seem to have much interest in that route. He is ready to go, he said. And if the pitcher gets his way, he will no longer have to worry about stopping at tollbooths.
@matt_breen