PHILADELPHIA -- Luis Perdomo was everything the Padres have asked him to be on Sunday night in Philadelphia. He stayed in the strike zone. He was efficient with his pitch count. He dug in when faced with trouble.
But he wasn't good enough to beat Vince Velasquez.
In his best start of the season, Perdomo was still outdone by the Phillies right-hander, as the Padres dropped the nightcap of their doubleheader, 5-0. The offense managed just two hits against Philadelphia pitching after breaking out for a 10-2, Game 1 victory. Velasquez -- who in 2016 twirled a 16-strikeout complete game in his only other start against the Padres -- held them in check over seven innings.
Perdomo did his best to match those zeros. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed a solo homer to Odubel Herrera in the bottom of the fourth on a slider six inches below the strike zone.
"At this level, you have the best hitters," Perdomo said. "He was able to execute his swing on a pitch that I felt good about."
He didn't allow another run before he exited in the seventh with one out and two men on.
"You want to score runs when a guy throws like that," Padres manager Andy Green said. "You want to give him an opportunity to win a game. That's a frustrating one to lose."
Upon Perdomo's exit, the Phillies broke the game open. Carlos Santana singled in a run off Padres reliever Phil Maton. Rhys Hoskins followed with a towering three-run homer, putting the game out of reach.
Both of Perdomo's runners scored, leaving him with a somewhat unfair line. He allowed three runs on five hits and a walk, but make no mistake: It was Perdomo's best effort of the season. He made a strong case to maintain his rotation spot when right-hander Jordan Lyles returns from the disabled list -- potentially some time next week.
"He's fighting to be at the big league level right now," Green said. "Nothing's being handed to him. He's stepping up and earning it. Tonight was a great showing for more and more opportunities."
Of course, Perdomo has tantalized before. His stuff has been excellent at times during parts of his three big league seasons. He has, somewhat maddeningly, never pieced it together on a consistent basis.
"Today was a really solid day," catcher A.J. Ellis said. "It was fun to be back there with him. … Now, it's consistency. When things get off-track a little bit, get back on track as fast as you can."
Whether Sunday's start was a sign of progress or another blip remains to be seen.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Ellis breaks through: Velasquez didn't allow a hit until Ellis' rocket off the left-field wall to lead off the sixth. But Ellis was held to a single and was forced out at second base on Perdomo's ensuing bunt. The Padres put another runner on base in the frame, but Cory Spangenberg struck out swinging and Eric Hosmer flied to left to end the threat. It was the only time San Diego had a runner in scoring position all night.
Bloop and a blast: Maton nearly escaped the seventh inning without damage, but Santana picked the perfect spot to bloop his two-out RBI single. Maton came inside with a curveball, and Santana flared it over first base. Padres second baseman Jose Pirela was inches from making a diving catch. Instead, the Phillies took a 2-0 lead, and Hoskins made it 5-0 one batter later.

STELLAR SPANGENBERG
Spangenberg was recalled to the big league club before Sunday's games, and he wasted no time making an impact defensively. The third baseman made a pair of excellent defensive plays in foul territory. In the fourth he ranged to the Padres' dugout and reached over the railing to make a nifty catch on a Jesmuel Valentin pop fly.

In the seventh, he made a sliding over-the-shoulder grab to steal an at-bat from pinch-hitter Cesar Hernandez.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Travis Jankowski has established himself as one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball (and one of the most versatile). He added to his impressive resume with a brilliant running grab at the left-center-field wall in the bottom of the first. Jankowski ranged far to his right, then leaped and collided with the wall, robbing Hoskins of extra bases.

HE SAID IT
"This was the wrong night to run into him." -- Green, on Velasquez
UP NEXT
Eric Lauer is set for his first start of the second half, and he aims to bounce back from a rough outing against the Cubs his last time out. He's posted a 3.17 ERA since the start of June. The rookie left-hander squares off against Mets righty Zach Wheeler in the first game of a three-game set on Monday at Citi Field. First pitch is slated for 4:10 p.m. PT.