Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Arrieta, Phils sputter together in loss to Braves
PHILADELPHIA >> Refreshed and rested, optimistic and determined, within striking distance of the first place in the NL East and thick in the wild-card mix, the Phillies returned Friday to Citizens Bank Park.
That’s when a familiar problem led to a troubling 9-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves: The bone spur in Jake Arrieta’s pitching arm.
Continuing to pitch through pain, yet ever in danger of a shaky outing, Arrieta lasted five innings and allowed five runs (four earned), striking out four and walking three.
“I was pretty much in control into the fifth,” Arrieta said. “Then I was physically limited and not able to do what I was doing in the first four innings.
“It’s unfortunate, but that’s what I am dealing with.”
Arrieta has been trying to avoid season-ending surgery, and has given the Phils some productive innings since the bone spur became public July 7.
“The movement, the action and the velocity in the first four innings was about as good as it’s been all year,” he said. “And then it flips. It’s frustrating, because that’s what I have been dealing with for the majority of the season. I don’t know. It’s not a good feeling.”
••• Cole Irvin replaced Arrieta for the sixth, and allowed four runs in two innings. He walked in two runs in the four-run Atlanta sixth, yet was permitted to hit with a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning.
“Ranger Suarez needed one more day,” Gabe Kapler said. “We have a lot of confidence in Cole. He was in there for length, to get us a couple of innings. It just didn’t work out in our favor.”
••• Zach Eflin, last heard mumbling something about his body feeling heavy and the loser of five of his last six decisions, will start Saturday night at 7:05.
What? No concerns about Eflin’s physical issues?
“We just don’t have enough information beyond that to have that be a major factor,” Kapler insisted. “There was just nothing to it. In fairness, we were just kind of talking openly and it just took on a life on its own. But being tired in the middle of a season is kind of normal for pitchers and not necessarily a sign of anything serious. And I think that’s the way we took it after lots of questions.”
Kapler stressed that the Phillies did not subject the right-hander to any physical exams, MRIs or x-rays. Basically, they let his comments fizzle.
“We’re always having conversations throughout the clubhouse.” the manager said. “And once you’ve had all those conversations, you make a determination. The determination is Zach is fine and doesn’t need to be pushed back.
“There was no official examination. No red flags. No concerns about injury. None of that stuff.”
Eflin (7-10, 4.25 ERA) will oppose Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (10-4, 4.08). That will be Eflin made to look foolish, along with the rest of his teammates, in an all-burgundy outfit last trotted out in 1979 to horrifying reviews inside and outside the clubhouse.
••• On the injured list with a sore elbow since April 15, David Robertson will meet with Kapler, pitching coach Chris Young and trainer Scott Sheridan this weekend.
Don’t get excited. “We’re going to devise a schedule and a plan,” Kapler said. Robertson has said that he’d hoped to return by the end of July. Kapler, however, was not even comfortable Friday saying he is near the rehab-assignment stage. “I don’t think there’s anything to speculate on,” he said, “beyond what’s happened so far.” ••• Jay Bruce is making less than a quick recovery from the oblique strain that sent him to the injured list July 17. “He’s about seven to 10 days out,” reported Kapler. “I think that’s a fair and reasonable expectation about when he might be ready to play for us. It could be a little bit longer. But that could be a reasonable time frame to think about.”
••• NOTES >> Hector Neris’ three-game suspension for plunking the Dodgers’ David Freese remains under appeal. The Phillies are confident the delay will allow their closer to be available for the entire Atlanta series. … The Phils’ Aug. 11 game in San Francisco was flexed to 7:05 EDT time for a Sunday Night Baseball telecast. It had been scheduled for 4:05. Kapler: “Any time we get Sunday night baseball games, it’s kind of good and bad at the same time. It’s exciting because heightens adrenaline a little bit, but it messes with travel.” … Before the game Saturday, the Phillies will be available on the field for fan photos. … Aaron Nola (8-2, 3.64) and right-hander Kevin Gausman (3-5, 5.71) will pitch Sunday afternoon at 1:05. … The trade deadline is Wednesday. Will the Phillies have a new player by Thursday? Yes or no? Kapler: “Yes-no. I’ll give both. Yes and no. I don’t know.”