First-Place Phillies Seek 6th Straight Win Behind Arrieta

Matt Rappa

July 7 2018

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies (48-37) will aim for their sixth straight win — and 14th series win — in Saturday's matinee against RHP Jameson Taillon and the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-47) at PNC Park. Right-hander Jake Arrieta will make his 17th start of the season, and eighth on the road.

The Phillies routed the Pirates, 17-5, in Friday's series opener, despite starter Nick Pivetta lasting just 2 2/3 innings. The Phillies offense produced seven extra-base hits, walked 10 times, and went 9-20 with runners in scoring position. Returning from the disabled list, Edubray Ramos (right shoulder impingement) improved to 3-0, while Tommy Hunter recorded his 16th hold. Phillies shortstop Scott Kingery produced a career single-game high, four hits, raising his average to .235. The game lasted four hours and 30 minutes, which set Phillies and Pirates franchise records — as well as tied the National League record — for the longest nine-inning game all-time.

A win on Saturday would put the Phillies 12 games over .500, as well as secure the club's first series win at PNC Park since July 2-4, 2013. The Phillies will play 10 games over nine days in four different cities, leading up to the All-Star break down in the nation's capital.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (48-37)			Pittsburgh Pirates (40-47)
RHP	Jake Arrieta		RHP	Jameson Taillon
RHP	(5-6, 3.54 ERA)		RHP	(5-6, 4.05 ERA)

RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 32

2018 vs. PIT: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 SO, 0.429 WHIP
Career vs. PIT: 11-6, 3.01 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 128 2/3 IP, 91 H, 47 R, 43 ER, 14 HR, 34 BB, 124 SO, 0.972 WHIP
Career at PNC Park: 4-4, 4.11 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 57 IP, 50 H, 29 R, 26 ER, 9 HR, 15 BB, 51 SO, 1.140 WHIP

RHP Jameson Taillon, Age: 26

2018 vs. PHI: 0-1, 27.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 3.600 WHIP
Career vs. PHI: 1-1, 5.68 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 12 2/3 IP, 15 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 19 SO, 1.500 WHIP
Career at PNC Park: 8-10, 4.08 ERA, 34 G, 34 GS, 187 2/3 IP, 191 H, 86 R, 85 ER, 20 HR, 46 BB, 172 SO, 1.263 WHIP

Starting Lineups:

Philadelphia Phillies (48-37)				Pittsburgh Pirates (40-47)
	Position	Player	Bats		Position	Player	Bats
1	2B	Cesar Hernandez	S	1	1B	Josh Bell	S
2	LF	Rhys Hoskins	R	2	CF	Starling Marte	R
3	CF	Odubel Herrera	L	3	RF	Gregory Polanco	L
4	1B	Carlos Santana	S	4	3B	Colin Moran	L
5	RF	Nick Williams	L	5	C	Elias Diaz	R
6	SS	Scott Kingery	R	6	LF	Corey Dickerson	L
7	C	Jorge Alfaro	R	7	2B	Josh Harrison	R
8	3B	Maikel Franco	R	8	SS	Jordy Mercer	R
9	P	Jake Arrieta	R	9	P	Jameson Taillon	R

Broadcast Information:

First pitch: 4:05 p.m.
TV: NBCSP
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

Over their last 10 games, the Phillies are 7-3, while outscoring opponents 47-43. The Braves, however, are 4-6, outscored 50-48.
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman, Friday's opener was the first Phillies game without a 1-2-3 inning from either side since June 5, 2016, and the first MLB game overall since August 22, 2017 (Texas Rangers-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).
Phillies catcher Andrew Knapp has a seven-game hit streak. Over this stretch, the Roseville, California, native is slashing .417/.462/1.000 with three singles, three doubles, one triple, three home runs, eight RBI, one walk and seven strikeouts spanning 26 plate appearances. Knapp has an extra-base hit in a career-best four straight games, since June 29.

The Phillies have won five straight games against the Pirates for the first time since June 5, 2011, to April 5, 2012. The Phillies are 19-35 (.352) all-time at PNC Park since the venue opened in 2001.
Lifetime against Taillon, Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is 4-7 with a home run, three RBI and two strikeouts (.571/.571/1.000). Herrera needs one more home run and six more RBI to set career highs in the respective batting categories.