Bullpen steps up as Phillies top Nationals

Bullpen steps up as Velasquez goes down; Phillies top Nats 3-2

PHILADELPHIA » Hit on his pitching arm by a line drive, Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez made a dazzling throw with his left hand, and Philadelphia overcame an injury to its starting pitcher to beat the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Saturday night.

Velasquez was struck in the forearm by Adam Eaton’s liner in the second inning. He dropped his glove, hustled to retrieve the ball as it deflected toward third base, and unleashed a strong throw with his opposite arm that nipped the speedy Eaton at first for the final out.

Velasquez then dropped to the ground, writhing in pain and clutching his right arm. He was pulled from the game with a bruise, having allowed one run and three hits.

Victor Arano (1-0) followed Velasquez with two scoreless innings of relief.

Odubel Herrera homered and Jorge Alfaro and Aaron Altherr had RBI doubles as the Phillies bounced back from a 17-7 loss. Anthony Rendon homered for the Nationals, who went deep seven times in Friday night’s romp at Citizens Bank Park, but managed

just eight hits against six Philadelphia pitchers.

Yacksel Rios kept Philadelphia in front by getting out of a jam in the eighth. After Adam Morgan allowed the first two runners to reach on a single and a walk, Rios entered and got Rendon to line out to right, Juan Soto to pop out and Mark Reynolds to ground out.

Rookie Seranthony Dominguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in his eighth chances. Dominguez retired the first two batters before pinchhitter Daniel Murphy doubled to right, but the righthander retired Eaton on a flyball.

Jeremy Hellickson (21) returned to the mound for Washington after being sidelined since June 4 with a right hamstring strain. The veteran righthander allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

The Nationals scored first on Spencer Kieboom’s one-out RBI double in the second that scored Wilmer Difo. Herrera tied it with a solo homer in the third, his 14th.

Philadelphia scored a pair of two-out runs in the fourth on doubles by Jesmuel Valentin, Alfaro and Altherr.

Washington pulled to 3-2 in the sixth on Rendon’s 11th homer of the season, a long drive to the upper deck in left. Zimmerman, who has been out since May 10 with a strained right oblique, to the 60-day DL.

LAURENCE KESTERSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies closer Seranthony Dominguez celebrates with teammates following Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals. Dominguez put the finishing touches on a solid outing from the Phillies bullpen once starter Vince Velasquez was forced to leave the game after two innings.

LAURENCE KESTERSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera (37) swings for a home run during the third inning of Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals.

LAURENCE KESTERSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies outfielder’ Odubel Herrera gestures after hitting a home run during the third inning of Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals.