Phillies earn series win behind Arrieta

Jake Arrieta has been the Phillies’ (11-6) most consistent starting pitcher to start the season. He continued that trend on Wednesday afternoon, leading the Phillies to a 3-2 victory and a series win over the New York Mets (10-8) at Citizens Bank Park. Things got a little too close for comfort in the ninth, but Hector Neris got out of a bases loaded jam to end the game. The series victory was the fourth of the season for Philadelphia. They move to 11-6 for the first time since 2011.

The Phillies started the scoring in the second. J.T. Realmuto hit a one-out single to right and made it to third on Odubel Herrera’s single in the next at-bat. Cesar Hernandez followed with a phenomenal 11-pitch at-bat to draw a walk and load the bases. Maikel Franco drove a sacrifice fly to center, plating Realmuto, to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, they’d strand two runners after an Arrieta strikeout. The Phils also loaded the bases in the third with two down, but were unable to capitalize.

In the top of the fifth, Odubel Herrera tracked a ball down in left center field and was limping after making the catch. Aaron Altherr came into the game for Herrera in center. After the game, Gabe Kapler said that Odubel was just experiencing cramps in his right leg.

The Phillies tacked on two more runs via the solo homer in the fifth and sixth innings. Scott Kingery continued his hot streak with a solo bomb, his second straight game with a long ball. Over the last five games, Kingery is hitting 9-for-17 with four doubles, two home runs and six RBI.

.@ScottyJetp4x takes flight. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/X0UZikYs92

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 17, 2019

Cesar Hernandez hit his second homer of the season in the sixth inning on the very first pitch of his at-bat.

First pitch swingin'.#HailCésar | #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/xtslHJTq5M

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 17, 2019

New York got their first run across in the top of the seventh courtesy of a lead-off home run by Michael Conforto.

Phillies starter Jake Arrieta went out to pitch the ninth, but after allowing a runner to reach, Gabe Kapler opted to bring in Adam Morgan to face a pair of lefties. Morgan hit Robinson Cano before getting Michael Conforto to fly out to right field for the first out.

Hector Neris was next up and came in and got a strikeout. Things had to get a little more interesting, though. Amed Rosario hit a slow dribbler to third, which scored a run for the Mets, cutting the Phillies lead in half. Neris hit Wilson Ramos, which loaded the bases, but he was able to strike out Keon Broxton on a 3-2 fastball and end the game.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Jake Arrieta’s was phenomenal on Wednesday afternoon and continued to be the most consistent arm in the Phillies rotation. Arrieta went 8+ innings, gave up two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out three. Jake didn’t have the strikeout stuff working today, but he induced plenty of weak ground ball outs. 41.4 percent of his outs were via the ground ball.

Zach Wheeler kept Phillies bats at bay for the most part in the series finale. He escaped two bases loaded jams with only one-run allowed before giving up solo home runs to Scott Kingery and Cesar Hernandez.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Jake Arrieta

It is hard not to pick Arrieta for Player of the Game after putting together another strong outing as part of a shaky Phillies rotation to start the 2019 season. Arrieta pitched eight innings, holding the Mets to two runs. Wednesday was his third start pitching seven innings or more, which makes him one of just three pitchers in Major League Baseball this year to do that, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. It also marked his fourth consecutive quality start. He didn’t compile four consecutive quality starts at any point in 2018.

Next Game

• Thursday April 18 vs. Colorado Rockies at Coors Field
• 8:40 p.m.
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