OOTP 6/29: Diamondbacks 5, Phillies 4 (10 innings)

Before a big series against the surprising Padres, the Phillies would’ve liked to taken the last game of the series and head into the next one with some momentum. Instead, they lose a heartbreaker in extra innings and the manager has some questions to answer.

The game wasn’t particularly exciting. Instead, it was more of a slog to get through. Sure the Phillies got some more home runs from the expected sources. But they also missed some golden chances to tack on more runs.

For example, in the third inning, Jake Arrieta was gifted a four pitch walk with one out, then went to third on a single from Jean Segura when the centerfielder lobbed his return throw into the base not thinking that Arrieta would turn on the jets. Bryce Harper then grounded to the pitcher, who lobbed a ball to first that the first baseman Jake Lamb inexplicably dropped, allowing a runner to score. The next batter, J.T. Realmuto, walked to load the bases, but Scott Kingery struck out and the threat was over.

Rhys Hoskins led off the fourth with a home run to make it 2-0, but the Diamondbacks got one back on a solo shot from David Peralta. In the bottom of the fifth, Segura and Harper went back to back and the score was 4-1. Arrieta was cruising and everything was going great.

Then the eighth. Hoo boy, the eighth inning.

Arrieta was out there, still under 100 pitches, so Joe Girardi stuck with him. Lamb, making up for his whoopsie earlier, led off the inning with a home run.

No bullpen activity.

Arrieta struck out the next two batters (great!), but then Kole Calhoun homered.

Still....no bullpen activity.

When Ketel Marte homered to follow Calhoun, the lead was gone, the game was tied and Girardi had to answer for this mistake.

Still....no bullpen activity.

Arrieta finished the inning, but the damage was done.

Sure, the teams went to extra innings, but in games like this, especially for the Phillies, you almost know exactly how it will end. It’s just a matter of what manner the torturous loss would come. For this game, it came in the manner of Francisco Liriano loading the bases with no one out in the tenth inning before a sacrifice fly brought the winning run home.

That’s a Phillies loss, baby.

We mentioned a big series against San Diego coming up. That’s because the Padres are the surprising second wild card right now, two games up on Atlanta and an even more surprising 3 games behind Los Angeles for the division lead. It should be a very good series.