Velasquez was brilliant last night. In 6.1 innings, he threw 85 pitches, 66 for strikes (78 percent). He allowed 2 hits, walked 1, and struck out 7 without allowing a run as the Phillies beat the Marlins, 5-1, to remain in first place for the 29th consecutive day.
Velasquez was credited with a game score of 75. A game score is a Bill James stat designed to, well, show how a pitcher fared. It works like this–start with 50 points, and add 1 point for each out recorded. Pitchers get 1 point for each strikeout and 2 points for each inning completed after the 4th. Pitchers lose points for hits allowed (-2), walks allowed (-1), earned runs (-4), and unearned runs (-2).
Friday's 75 was Velasquez's second-best game score of the season. On July 22, he scored a 79 by throwing 7 innings of 2-hit shutout baseball against the Padres, when he walked 1 and struck out 7. His career best was April 14, 2016 when he threw a 3-hit complete game shutout against the Padres, striking out 16 and walking none. His game score for that masterpiece was an otherworldly 97. Gerritt Cole of the Astros has the highest score this season (100), for his 1 hit, 1 walk, 16 strikeout effort against Arizona on May 4.
Game scores are a little hinky, though. In Roy Halladay's perfect game against the Marlins in 2010, his game score was 98. So are we to believe Cole's start against Arizona was better because he had more strikeouts, even though he allowed a hit and a walk? Anyway...
Has VV finally arrived as a consistent MLB starter? His 2.14 ERA since June 9 is the best in the National League sure provides evidence. The only troubling stat is his record against the second-place Braves this season. He's 0-4 in 4 starts with a 7.41 ERA and has allowed 29 hits and 8 walks in 17 innings.
The Phillies play the Braves 7 more times this season. If this Phils are going to win the division, they need Vince Velasquez to find a way to beat Atlanta.
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