Velasquez whiffs 9 as Phillies sweep Tigers

J.T. Realmuto and Nick Williams hit solo homers, Vince Velasquez pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies silenced the Detroit Tigers 4-0 on Wednesday. Realmuto hit his 12th homer of the season, while Williams notched his second. Cesar Hernandez had two hits, a run scored and an RBI, while Rhys Hoskins singled and tripled while driving in a run.

Velasquez scattered four hits and struck out nine. Velasquez (3-5) recorded his first victory since May 24. A trio of relievers finished the shutout as the Phillies completed a two-game sweep as the team capped a brief 4-1 road trip. Hector Neris struck out the side in the ninth.

Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann (0-8) remained winless since September 5, a span of 17 starts. He gave up four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Niko Goodrum and Brandon Dixon had two hits apiece for Detroit, which has lost 13 of its last 15 games. Hoskins tripled with two out in the first but was left stranded when Realmuto struck out.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the second but Velasquez struck out Gordon Beckham to snuff out the threat. Realmuto's homer to left in the fourth opened the scoring. The Phillies then knocked out Zimmermann in the fifth when extending the lead to 4-0.

Williams jumped on a slider for a 435-foot blast to right. Roman Quinn had a one-out bunt single, advanced to third on a Zimmermann error and scored when center fielder JaCoby Jones dove and missed Hernandez's fly ball. Following that double, Scott Kingery walked and Hoskins ripped a single to left to bring in Hernandez. The Tigers had two on and two out in the sixth but reliever Ranger Suarez entered to strike out Christin Stewart.

Kingery had a ground-rule double in the seventh but was left stranded. The Tigers had two baserunners again in the eighth when Dixon and Jeimer Candelario drew two-out walks, but Stewart then lined out to right field.

Hoskins flied out with runners in scoring position in the ninth.