Arrieta Wins 100th Career Game as Phillies Rout Marlins

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Right-hander Jake Arrieta had arguably one of his best starts in a Philadelphia Phillies (8-4) uniform during the club’s three-game series opener 9-1 rout of the Miami Marlins (3-11) Monday evening at Marlins Park.

In seven innings, Arrieta allowed just one run, five hits and one walk, while striking out eight batters and inducing 10 swings and misses, six ground balls and six fly balls. Arrieta’s strong outing, combined with the Phillies’ potent offensive showing, successfully yielded the right-hander’s 100th career victory.

The Marlins have now scored just two runs over their last four games. The Phillies’ win improved their season record against National League East opponents to 6-3, 2-1 on the road. The Phillies produced 14 hits and went 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The top five hitters in their lineup alone went 11-for-22 with six RBI. In the field, the Phillies turned two double plays and committed no errors. Arrieta is now 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA.

The Phillies missed out on an early scoring opportunity opposite Marlins rookie starter RHP Sandy Alcantara. Left fielder Andrew McCutchen (walk), shortstop Jean Segura (single) and right fielder Bryce Harper (single) loaded the bases with nobody out to begin the game, but first baseman Rhys Hoskins and catcher J.T. Realmuto followed with a strikeout and grounded into double play grounded, respectively, ending the inning. Alcantara threw 19 pitches (11 strikes).

The Phillies did not fall short during their next scoring opportunity, two innings later, as they scored five runs on six straight one-out hits. McCutchen and Segura got on base again to start the rally — both singles. McCutchen hustled to third on Segura’s single, setting up Harper’s RBI single to right the next at-bat. Then, Hoskins and Realmuto respectively laced a RBI double and single to give the Phillies a three-run advantage. Center fielder Odubel Herrera kept the rally going with a two-run double, putting the Phillies on top, 5-0. After three innings pitched, Alcantara had allowed five runs, eight hits and two walks, while punching out three batters on 60 pitches and 37 strikes.

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez joined the Phillies’ hitting spree with a bloop RBI single to right in the fifth, giving the club a 6-0 lead. Marlins outfielders lacked communication on the play to allow Hernandez to single, the Phillies’ 11th hit of the game, and his first. The fifth inning would be Alcantara’s last; he finished with six runs (all earned), 11 hits and two walks allowed, while striking out six spanning 93 total pitches. The right-hander’s ERA rose from 1.50 to 4.24.

Arrieta’s only run allowed came in his last inning, the seventh. He allowed a leadoff single and double, before rookie outfielder Austin Dean, in is 2019 debut, hit a sacrifice RBI to left, his 15th career RBI.

The next half-inning, McCutchen blew the game open with a three-run blast to center where the old home run sculpture used to be — his third hit of the game and his third home run of 2019 to put the Phillies on top even more, 9-1.

Realmuto went 2-5 with two runs scored, one RBI and one strikeout in his first game against his former club. Former Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro went 2-4 with two strikeouts and a run scored — his new club’s only run scored of the game. The Marlins gave a short “welcome-back” video tribute to Realmuto before his first-inning plate appearance. Meanwhile, southpaw prospect Will Stewart — one of the two other players the Phillies gave up for Realmuto — allowed just one hit through 7 2/3 scoreless innings for the Marlins’ Advanced-A Florida State League affiliate in Jupiter on Friday. He struck out seven batters and walked one.

Right-handed reliever Victor Arano, called up Friday to replace RHP Edubray Ramos, made his 2019 debut with scoreless eighth and ninth innings, allowing only one walk while punching out one batter on 25 pitches and 14 strikes.

Game Notes:

• McCutchen began the game with a leadoff walk. This season in 12 plate appearances and nine at-bats to lead off the game, he has two singles, one double, one home run, one RBI, three walks, three strikeouts and eight total bases.
• Hoskins’ RBI double in the third inning was his sixth straight hit that went for extra bases, dating back to last Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins. 
• Segura produced his sixth multi-hit game out of 12 games overall this season, going 3-5 with one run scored and one double, his fourth. Scott Kingery replaced Segura at short, while Aaron Altherr replaced Harper in right to start the latter-half of the eighth, with the Phillies up, 9-1.
• The Phillies’ five runs scored in the third matched their season single-inning high, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark notes.
• Arano had a 45.00 ERA in seven appearances and four innings this past spring training, but tossed four scoreless innings in three appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley leading up to the promotion back to the majors.
• With his 100th victory, Arrieta is the 22nd active pitcher to reach triple-digits in wins. Corey Kluber and Anibal Sanchez are the next closest to the milestone mark, with 97 wins each.

What’s Next:

• Saturday, April 13, 2019: at Miami Marlins, 6:10 p.m.
  • Marlins Park, Miami, Fla.
  • RHP Zach Eflin (2-0, 0.75 ERA) vs. LHP Caleb Smith (0-0, 4.09 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP+; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP