BASEBALL IN HIGH HEELS: PHILLIES VS PIRATES 5.19.17
By Marc Auker
SLUMPING PHILLIES REBOUND WITH BIG WIN IN PITTSBURGH
After dropping four straight games, the Philadelphia Phillies (15-24) returned to the winner’s circle Friday night after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-24) by a final score of 7-2.
Friday’s pitching duel featured Philly’s ace Jeremy Hellickson (5-1) and Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams (2-3). Hellickson brought some of his best stuff to the mound on Friday, striking out two batters, walking one batter and denying 16 of the last 17 batters that faced him at the plate. Williams had a decent showing, with a 4.76 ERA in 5.2 innings of work, until the Phils turned on the jets in the top of the sixth inning.
Philadelphia catcher Cameron Rupp put the cherry on top for the Phillies when he slugged a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning. Fan-favorite Maikel Franko finally looked comfortable at the plate, earning two hits on the evening. Freddy Galvis also contributed two hits in the winning effort.
The Pirates came out of the gates on fire, scoring two runs in the first inning. Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison hit a lead-off double and would later score after a single from Josh Bell (and Bell racked up three hits on the night). When it was all said and done, that run would prove to be the last of Pittsburgh’s offensive success. The squad’s second run came from an error by Galvis.
Rupp’s homer in the ninth gave Philly’s lackluster bullpen plenty of room for error going into the bottom of the ninth. The Phils’ bullpen has been consistently inconsistent all season; so adding some run support for closing pitcher Hector Neris certainly helped the Phillies pick up the win.
Vince Velasquez (2-3) will take the mound Staurday for the Phillies and will face Pittsburgh’s Ivan Nova (3-3). The game is slated to begin at 4:05 p.m. EST.
