Have you ever heard the old cliche “When it rains, it pours?” No truer words could have been said for the Phillies’ season restart against the Yankees last night. The Phillies dropped their season reopener 6-3 to the New York Yankees.
The Phillies’ offense was in a full drought against ace Gerrit Cole last night. Besides a Jay Bruce bomb in the third, the Phillies’ offense left starter Jake Arrieta out to dry. It was not until a timely rain delay removed Cole from the game that the offense decided to bring the rain. Jean Segura scored on an Adam Haseley single in the seventh against reliever Chad Green. One inning later, Segura batted in J.T. Realmuto on a single of his own.
Jake Arrieta’s 2020 debut was a mixed bag. The wind was blowing out, allowing for two solo home runs that would have been routine flyouts. The only trouble he got into was in the third inning when Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks hit back-to-back doubles, scoring Judge. Arrieta kept the ball in play, allowing no walks and striking out four. While not the best outing, Arrieta showed control, pitching into two key double plays.
The bullpen continues to be the biggest issue for the Phillies. Deolis Guerra came in to relieve Arrieta in the sixth and did not make it through the inning. After demonstrating no control by walking Hicks and hitting Giancarlo Stanton, Guerra got whacked for a three-run home run by Gio Urshela. Adam Morgan came in to finish the inning. After the rain delay subsided, Tommy Hunter and Jose Alvarez pitched well in relief, allowing one walk while striking out three in two combined innings.
Regardless of the bright spots, however, the Phillies’ bullpen is a problem. The team owns the second-worst bullpen ERA in the league (5.91). But good thing we fixed that problem this offseason, right Matt Klentak? Oh, that’s right, we didn’t…
Now as Tropical Storm Isaias rocks the eastern seaboard, the Phillies have yet another day off (technically with two postponed games today), and will host the Yankees tomorrow for a home-and-away double-header in Philly. The Yankees will be the home team for game one. Both games will be seven-inning doubleheaders, so hopefully, we will not see much of the Phillies’ bullpen tomorrow.
Aaron Nola and J.A. Happ were the expected starters for today’s rainout, so expect them both in action tomorrow. Zack Wheeler will likely get the call for game two tomorrow. Game one is scheduled to start at 4:05 PM.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
