Lopez sparkles for Phils in first outing since ’07
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rodrigo Lopez walked off the mound to a standing ovation from a sellout crowd in the home of the defending World Series champions.
Not bad for a guy who hadn’t pitched in the majors in two years.
Lopez took a three-hitter into the seventh inning, helping the Philadelphia Phillies snap a six-game home losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.
‘‘I’m pretty happy, pretty excited,’’ Lopez said. ‘‘Being out for two years, it was a long way to go, a long battle. I didn’t know it would take this long.’’
Lopez (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings to earn his first win since beating the Phillies on July 7, 2007, when he played for Colorado. The right-hander was sidelined since having elbow ligament replacement surgery 23 months ago.
The NL East-leading Phillies were swept by Toronto and Baltimore in consecutive three-game series at Citizens Bank Park last month.
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