If his right arm isn’t healed in time for his next start http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-greg-little-jersey , maybe Vince Velasquez can pitch with his left.

Ambidextrous, indeed.

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

”It is well-known he is one of our best all-around athletes,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. ”You just would never predict that.”

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 toss with his opposite arm that nipped the speedy Eaton at first for the final out.

”I tried to finish the play,” Velasquez said.

The Phillies pitcher actually spent his junior season in high school as a lefty-throwing center fielder due to bone chips in his pitching arm that prevented him from taking the mound.

And on Friday night, Velasquez startled Phillies first baseman Carlos Santana by throwing a ball to him left-handed from the dugout in between innings.

”Kind of warmed up for that play today,” Velasquez joked.

So, Velasquez knew he could throw left-handed – he just didn’t know if he could make an accurate toss.

”I actually surprised myself throwing a strike right there,” he said.

After completing the play, 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.

X-rays were negative, a better result than he anticipated.

”I thought something was broken,” he said. ”Thanks to God, nothing is severe.”

Kapler said Velasquez would be further evaluated on Sunday. The pitcher said it was ”up in the air” whether he would be able to take his next turn in the rotation.

”We’ll see how it feels,” he said.

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

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 Will Grier Jersey , who went deep seven times in Friday night’s romp at Citizens Bank Park, but managed just eight hits against six Philadelphia pitchers.

”I thought we were going to score more than two runs after yesterday’s performance,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. ”We had our chances.”

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 pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy doubled to right, but the right-hander retired Eaton on a flyball.

”Cool as a cucumber,” Kapler said. ”A special performance.”

Jeremy Hellickson (2-1) returned to the mound for Washington after being sidelined since June 4 with a right hamstring strain. The veteran right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

RED-HOT RENDON

Rendon is batting .396 in his last 13 games, with hits in 12 of those contests. His 85 career hits against Philadelphia are tied for his most against any opponent.

WHAT A THROW

Alfaro upped his major-league lead to 15 base runners caught stealing when he nailed the swift Trea Turner for the final out in the fifth. Turner entered second in the majors with 22 steals, but was easily out.

”Alfaro threw a bullet,” Martinez said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (right shoulder inflammation), out since June 10, threw a bullpen session on Saturday. … Washington transferred 1B Ryan Zimmerman, who has been out since May 10 with a strained right oblique, to the 60-day DL.

UP NEXT

The teams close out the four-game series on Sunday afternoon with Washington LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-5, 3.68) facing Phillies RHP Jake Arrieta (5-6, 3.54).

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — As Josh Rosen dropped back to pass during practice Tuesday, Ryan Fitzpatrick slapped and pushed him in the back, like an older brother trying to annoy.It was part of a drill http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-christian-miller-jersey , and those are the only swipes the two Miami Dolphins newcomers are taking at each other as they begin competition for the No. 1 quarterback job.Fitzpatrick, entering his 15th NFL season, has been through it all before. This year he can become the first player to throw a pass for eight teams.“I’ve always had to earn every opportunity that I’ve received,” said Fitzpatrick, 36. “I love the competition. I love being out here and trying to be the best me I can be.”When Fitzpatrick signed an $11 million, two-year deal in March, the job appeared to be his to replace the departed Ryan Tannehill. Then the Dolphins traded two draft picks for Rosen, who had a rocky rookie season in Arizona last year but could become the franchise quarterback Miami has sought since Dan Marino retired 20 years ago.Fitzpatrick, speaking publicly about the Rosen trade for the first time, said he took the deal in stride.“I’m here because this was an opportunity where I would have a chance to play,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was a job that was open.”It still is, according to first-year coach Brian Flores. He said the best QB in practice will start.“I expect Ryan to compete for the starting position,” Flores said. “I expect him to lead in the quarterback room, and really the entire offense. Obviously he has a wealth of knowledge and a lot of experience. There’s competition, but at the same time we’re trying to build a team and try to help each other become the best version of ourselves on the field. I expect him to be the leader he is. He has done a good job of that so far.”Rosen, like Fitzpatrick, has embraced the battle for the No. 1 job, and said he’ll be mindful of the example set by his more experienced teammate.“He likes to goof around, but he works really hard Jordan Scarlett Jersey ,” Rosen said. “He has been in this league a long time. If I can take just a couple of lessons from him, they’ll do me very well in the long run.”The QBs’ lockers are side by side, allowing plenty of opportunity for conversation — such as when the cerebral Rosen explained to Fitzpatrick the ecological benefit of the recycled plastic in his cleats.“Some of the stuff he talks about reminds me of some classmates I had in college,” said Fitzpatrick, a Harvard alum. “The topics are sometimes not necessarily things I want to talk about. But he’s definitely an interesting guy.”This week’s practices are the first for Rosen with Miami. He fumbled three snaps to start Tuesday’s workout, and threw an interception at the beginning of seven-on-seven drills, while Fitzpatrick lined up with the first unit.Rosen acknowledged there’s a considerable learning curve in a new city with a new team.“My head is swimming,” he said. “You kind of underestimate from the outside looking in all the logistical issues — just having to move, and I’m walking into the receiver room thinking it’s the bathroom. There are a lot of little things that go into it. When you step on the field, you’ve got to let that go.”Fitzpatrick has been with the team only a few weeks longer but already seems at home. He led teammates jogging through an agility drill, holding the ball in one hand as defenders tried to poke it out, while repeatedly touching the turf with his other hand.Fitzpatrick reached the finish and struck a Superman pose. Rosen’s challenge will be to top that.NOTES: Two-time Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones is skipping this week’s practices, which are voluntary. Jones also missed three voluntary workouts in April. Flores didn’t give a reason but said he has talked with Jones, and the continued absences aren’t an issue. Flores said he expects Jones to attend mandatory minicamp in June. … Cornerback Xavien Howard said he doesn’t plan a spending spree after signing a $76.5 million, five-year extension , the most lucrative deal ever for an NFL cornerback. “I’m going to save it,” he said.