LOS ANGELES - They gathered Tuesday evening on the Dodger Stadium dirt, behind a rope, and anticipated a homecoming. More than 100 friends and family came to watch Vince Velasquez, a native of nearby Pomona, Calif., and those closest to the 24-year-old pitcher secured field passes.
Before a nightmarish 9-3 Phillies loss, Velasquez came to greet his support, which held signs during batting practice to encourage him. One spelled Pomona, but with a Phillies script "P." A woman wearing a Velasquez jersey assembled a strikeout tracker.
Then, for two hours, they watched Velasquez pitch the worst game of his major-league career.