We didn’t Nido that: Mets 6, Phillies 5

Coming off of a big victory against the Mets, the team they couldn’t beat for about 10 years, the Phillies were looking to take the series before the All-Star break and put themselves into position to have a sweep before they decided to rest their weary bones for a few days. Unfortunately, the Phillies couldn’t make it happen.

It started with Jake Arrieta on the hill. He began his night by putting the first two men on base, Jeff Macneil getting a base hit and Pete Alonso getting hit by a pitch, something that would become a theme for the night. After a forceout from Robinson Cano, Michael Conforto doubled in a run, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. In the second, the Phillies would storm back, led by home runs by Jay Bruce and Maikel Franco, making the score 3-1.

Arrieta would give back a run in the bottom half of the frame when four of the first five hitters singled, making it 3-2. The Phillies would get another in the top of the third on a single by Jean Segura, a stolen base and a double from Rhys Hoskins. Yet again, though, Arrieta could not shut the Mets down giving up a single to Todd Frazier and double to Dominic Smith, who was then called out on replay trying to stretch it to a triple. So, after three innings the score was 4-3.

In the fifth, that was when the fireworks started.

Arrieta struck out Conforto, but then hit Frazier with a changeup. Frazier took exception and yelled all the way down the line at Arrieta. Home plate umpire Tripp Gibson decided to issue warnings to both benches before ultimately ejecting Frazier for something he said.

Dominic Smith then came up and doubled, putting men on second and third with one out. The next batter, Amed Rosario, was also hit by a pitch, but strangely Arrieta was allowed to stay in the game. Mets manager Mickey Callaway came out to argue and was promptly ejected himself. It was a weird sequence of events, especially after the umpire warned both teams. but Arrieta could have seen his way out of it. Instead, Tomas Nido had something to say about it.

That broke the game open, sending Arrieta to the showers.

J.T. Realmuto would add a run to the ledger with an RBI single in the seventh, making the score 6-5, but in the ninth, beleaguered Mets closer Edwin Diaz decided to forgo any hint of his troublesome slider and instead pumped 99 mile an hour fastballs in, all of which were hit pretty hard, and closed the door on the game.

Arrieta had another tough game for the team, only lasting 4 ¹⁄₃ innings and giving up 11 hits, 6 runs (5 earned) and striking out 4. He got very few swings and misses on the night and generally just looked completely off. Post game, we found out why. From The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Matt Gelb, we found out he has a bone spur in his right elbow that will require surgery and that something might have to be done soon.

If Arrieta has to miss the rest of the season, it would be a huge blow this team. As poorly as he has pitched lately, this team can ill afford another pitcher getting hurt. Hopefully on Sunday, they can win the series and go into the break feeling good about their chances in the wild card chase.