LOS ANGELES — Vince Velasquez’s homecoming did not go well. With friends and family in the stands, the Phillies' right-hander endured the worst start of his young major-league career in a 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.
Velasquez, who grew up in Pomona, California, about an hour’s drive from Dodger Stadium, did not complete the fifth inning and was tagged for nine runs.
The Phillies have lost two nights in a row to the Dodgers by a combined score of 18-7.
Starting pitching report
Velasquez struck out three batters in the first inning on third-strike fastballs that registered 94, 95 and 96 miles per hour, respectively. After that, the Dodgers were all over his fastball. He gave up three two-run homers, all on heaters.
In all, Velasquez went 4 2/3 innings and gave up 11 hits and nine runs. Seven of the 11 hits were for extra bases.
Velasquez in 8-4 with a 3.94 in 20 starts.
Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda gave up three runs in five innings and got his 11th win.
Bullpen report
The Dodgers’ bullpen pitched four scoreless innings.
At the plate
Aaron Altherr clubbed a two-run homer for the Phillies and Freddy Galvis had a solo shot.
The Dodgers scored four runs against Velasquez in the second inning. Howie Kendrick highlighted the rally with a two-run homer. Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner also hit two-run homers on Velasquez fastballs.
The Dodgers have pounded Phillies pitching for 15 extra-base hits, including seven homers, in the first two games of the series.
Chase Utley had two of the Dodgers’ 13 hits.
Health check
One day after getting rocked by the Dodgers, pitcher Zach Eflin went on the disabled list with chronic knee soreness. He will try to get some answers from doctors in Philadelphia (see story).
The Phillies recalled reliever Elvis Araujo to take Eflin’s spot on the roster.
Up next
Jeremy Hellickson (9-7, 3.72) will oppose Dodgers lefty Scott Kazmir (9-4, 4.41) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon.
