Moore Please

Matt Moore made his Phillies spring debut today and looked like he belongs in the starting rotation. The left-hander pitched two innings, and allowed just one hit, a bad-hop double. Moore threw 23 pitches, 15 for strikes, struck out two and walked one. His curve and changeup were very effective. 

The enigmatic Vince Velasquez was next, and he pitched two scoreless innings and struck out three. He threw 20 pitches, 14 for strikes, and did not allow a baserunner. This is the kind of performance that has earned Velasquez so many chances and what makes his inconsistency so infuriating. 

The Phillies also got home runs early from Scott Kingery and Odubel Herrera, who provided a bat flip. You'd think a guy trying to get back in people's good graces might tone it down a bit and just run. But that's just me. I love a good bat flip as much as anyone, but not in your second spring training game when you're on an apology tour.

Odubel also had a part in the old 9-4-2 double play to end the second inning. A bad-hop grounder ended up in the right field corner and Herrera corralled it, threw a strike to cutoff man Nick Maton, who threw a one-hopper to the plate to get the runner trying to score. 

The Phils' bats were active early, and they led the Yankees 6-0 in the fourth inning. I had to go back to work because I have a real job that pays for this blog. (Photo via iPhone off my TV)