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SPORTS Monday 3 July 2017

Phillies rookie Nick Pivetta

stops Mets in 7-1 win

NEW YORK (AP) — Nick Piv- 6-foot-5 right-hander, ob- Philadelphia Phillies cen-
etta put a horrible start be- tained from the Nationals in terfielder Aaron Altherr (23)
hind him and stopped the a July 2015 trade for closer loses Lucas Duda’s fly ball by
New York Mets just when Jonathan Papelbon, struck his ear after it bounced off his
they were beginning to out four and walked four. shoulder during the seventh
inning of a baseball game
gain some momentum. “I think he still needs work against the New York Mets,
The rookie from Canada al- on his secondary pitches, Sunday, July 2, 2017, in New
lowed one hit in seven im- but once he hones those York. Altherr recovered and
pressive innings for his sec- pitches, he’s got a chance helped complete a double
ond career win, and the to be really good. I really play.
Philadelphia Phillies halted like him,” Phillies manager
New York’s four-game win- Pete Mackanin said . “He
ning streak with a 7-1 vic- certainly showed that he
tory Sunday. learned something from his
“My arm felt really, really last outing.”
good today, which was Pivetta was coming off the
nice. I felt really confident worst performance of his
going into the game,” Piv- brief career, when he gave
etta said. “Just had fun, up six runs, seven hits and
you know?” five walks over 2 2/3 innings
Maikel Franco hit a two-run last Monday in a 6-1 defeat
double in a four-run second at Arizona. “That was my
aided by a pair of sacrifice No. 1 focus, is a rebound
bunts. Rookie catcher An- right there,” Pivetta said. “I
drew Knapp added an RBI just had an off outing last
single and dashed home time.” New York had won
from second on a wild seven of eight since get-
pitch by Rafael Montero. ting swept in four games
Leadoff man Daniel Nava at Dodger Stadium. But
had three hits and two RBIs the Mets (38-43) played a
to help the major league- haphazard game Sunday
worst Phillies (27-53) fin- heading into a three-game
ish their 4-5 road trip on a series at NL East-leading
positive note. Philadelphia Washington.
outhit the Mets 12-2 and “We’ve got our work cut
improved to 15-32 against out for us, but there’s no
them since the start of the reason why we can’t be
2015 season. optimistic and think you’re
But the highlight was Piv- going to have a good
etta. “He had everything second half because our
working today. I was really pitching’s starting to come
happy with the way he at- around and Yoenis Ces-
tacked these guys,” Knapp pedes is not going to con-
said. “It’s a tough lineup tinue to struggle,” manag-
and you can get a little in- er Terry Collins said.
timidated by some of the Tommy Joseph and Nick
names in that lineup, but Williams opened the sec-
he went and attacked a ond with consecutive sin-
lot of guys with his fastball gles before Franco dou-
and got ahead of a lot of bled off the base of the
hitters. That helped him a left-center fence to snap
lot.” slumps of 0 for 13 and 5
Making his 10th big league for 33. Ty Kelly sacrificed
start, Pivetta (2-4) permit- and Franco scored when
ted only T.J. Rivera’s home Knapp singled sharply past
run on an 81 mph slider drawn-in second baseman
with one out in the fifth. The Asdrubal Cabrera.q