Bounce Back (noun)- Jake Arrieta; Phillies 5, Mets 3

The last time Jake Arrieta took the mound, the Phillies found themselves playing with a ten-run deficit by the second inning. Arrieta, who didn’t even last the entirety of those two innings, was tagged for seven earned runs on six hits and three walks. It wasn’t pretty.

This game was a complete bounce back for him. The biggest difference in Arrieta this game as opposed to Sunday was simply his ability to get outs. His command wasn’t the best it’s ever been, but it was certainly good enough to set a season-high in strikeouts. Over seven innings, he struck out seven—more than the total number of outs he recorded in his last start.

The fielders behind him definitely helped Arrieta out as well, with timely defensive plays including this grab by Bohm in the sixth.

The Phillies took the first lead in this one, as Jay Bruce singled to score Jean Segura in the second. Didi Gregorius added to the lead with an awkward RBI not-single. Though the ball reached shallow right field, the play was officially ruled a fielder’s choice as Rhys Hoskins was called out at second base. Manager Joe Girardi was not pleased that he apparently ran out of time before he could challenge the call on the field, though replay review seemed inconclusive.

Michael Conforto tied the game in the fifth with a two run homer to left field but the Phillies re-took the lead in the seventh on an RBI Roman Quinn single. Quinn then stole both second and third with two outs, but was unable to score. They added another two more runs in the eighth to make it 5-2 on a Segura single and a bases loaded hit-by-pitch.

Of course, despite the obvious improvement at the trade deadline, nothing could ever be too easy with this bullpen. Hector Neris allowed three out of the four batters he faced in the eighth inning to reach base and gave up one run before Girardi brought in Tommy Hunter. However Hunter retired the next two batters to maintain the two-run lead. Brandon Workman closed out the ninth for his fifth save since being traded to the Phillies.

Tomorrow night’s game should be an interesting one, as Spencer Howard looks for his second Major League win against Seth Lugo. Lugo, who has just recently become a starter for the Mets, has a 1-1 record and a 2.12 ERA on the season. He’s 0-1 in two relief appearances against the Phillies in 2020.