To limit deep counts, Vince Velasquez adopts a sinker

BRADENTON, Fla. - Vince Velasquez threw just 882/3 innings last season, a byproduct of a back injury, some back-and-forth stints in the minors, and a bullpen assignment.

But the 23-year-old righthander has another idea to explain why he was unable to log more innings.

"I went deep into counts," Velasquez said. "I was throwing a lot of pitches. I had a lot of short games because I threw straight fastballs."

That, he said, is why he is dedicated to throwing more sinkers, a pitch he rarely used before. He showed the sinker often Monday in a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh with quality results. Velasquez, not known as a ground ball pitcher, induced two double-play balls to escape trouble.

He threw three scoreless innings, which were equaled by Brett Oberholtzer, another candidate to be the Phillies' fifth starter.

Velasquez reached seven innings just once in 2015. His 4.23 pitches per plate appearance ranked eighth highest among pitchers with at least 50 innings. The major-league average was 3.82 pitches.

He sees the sinker as a remedy.

"It's perfect," said Velasquez, who was acquired from the Astros in the Ken Giles trade. "It's one of the things that would really help me early in counts, to get that ground ball when I really need it. I utilized it a little bit before but I didn't have full control. Now it's one of the things that's added to my arsenal."

Phillies pitching coach Bob McClure encouraged Velasquez to include the sinker. His four-seam fastball hovers in the mid-90s, while his sinker could range between 90 and 93 mph.

"Over in Houston, I guess they liked the four-seam fastball up in the zone," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "We like the sinker down in the zone, as well as the fastball. Two different pitches."

As Velasquez continues his audition, the manager wants to see more balance in his pitch selection.

"When you get into the middle and later innings as a starter, you have to be able to change speeds and keep hitters off balance," Mackanin said. "If you're throwing everything hard the whole game, you'd better have real good command."

Both teams were punchless until the seventh inning when Brock Stassi lashed a double to right. He scored on an Andres Blanco single. Blanco, who was limited by a shoulder injury, played in his first game of the spring.

Stassi, 26, has impressed while at first base.

"He was advertised as an outstanding defensive player," Mackanin said. "He looks like a Gold Glove-caliber defender. The guy makes play after play. The routine ones, the diving ones, the finesse ones where you need body control. He just plays with a lot of confidence out there."

David Buchanan allowed two unearned runs on four hits and a walk in three innings Monday against Keio University, a Japanese college team, at Bright House Field. The Phillies added the exhibition game because of the number of pitchers in camp who need innings. . . . Lefty Adam Morgan starts Tuesday in Clearwater against the Pirates.