READING - Wednesday night did not exactly begin the way Vince Velasquez had planned.
The Phillies pitcher forgot to retrieve his toll ticket when entering the Pennsylvania Turnpike en route to Reading for a rehab start. He was required upon exiting to pay the maximum fee. Velasquez then allowed a home run to the first batter he faced at double-A Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium.
It was a frustrating start, but Velasquez recovered. The righthander gave up just one more hit and threw 76 pitches in five innings of a 4-1 win against Akron. He hopes it is the only rehab start he needs before heading back to the majors.