SLOW GAME, BUT PADRES LOSE AND PHILLIES TAKE SERIES 3-1

By Liz Alper

Photo: the Padres line up for the anthems at Citizens Bank Park, courtesy of @Padres on Twitter

April 14, 2016 (Philadelphia) - The Padres’ final game in Philadelphia was an afternoon game, with Drew Pomeranz on the hill for San Diego and Vince Velasquez taking the mound for the Phillies.

Ryan Howard, not at all past his prime, it seems, hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.



The bats stayed quiet until the sixth inning when Howard came up to the plate again and hit a sacrifice fly, driving in Odubel Herrera and giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead.

Andres Blanco scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to extend the Phillies’ lead by one to 3-0.

That would be the final score.  Velasquez becomes the seventh pitcher in MLB history to throw a shutout with at least 16 strikeouts and no walks.  The Padres come home tomorrow for hopefully a better home stand than last time.  They'll face the Arizona Diamondbacks.  It'll be a good pitchers’ matchup:  James Shields against Zack Greinke.