Vargas delivers quality debut for Phillies

PHILADELPHIA >> The Phillies went out and got Jason Vargas at the trade deadline to provide reliable, quality innings at the back end of its rotation. For one night, it worked, even if the bullpen didn’t exactly cooperate in a 4-3 loss to the White Sox in 15 innings.

Vargas worked into the seventh against the White Sox Friday, providing the kind of innings the Phillies have desperately need from a starter not named Aaron Nola.

It continues the positive early impression he’s left on his new team.

“One thing that stands out to me is yesterday, he got off the mound and just threw a little bit after the game,” manager Gabe Kapler said pregame. “He was especially professional calling all of his pitches, really in control and it was nice to see a guy who has such a good understanding of his stuff and how to locate it and practice it. Those are the things that stand out to me about Jason, and he came in here and made an incredible first impression on everybody.”

The Phillies got Vargas from the Mets along with a reported $2 million in cash for a lowlevel catching prospect ahead of Wednesday’s deadline. The 36-year-old has consistently logged innings in his 14-year career, the antithesis of the hot-and-cold young arms the Phillies have staked their rotation on. With Jake Arrieta limited by a bone spur in his elbow, Drew Smyly’s reclamation project just two starts in and the multi-headed beast of Nick Pivetta-Zach Eflin-Vince Velasquez-Jerad Eickhoff being, politely, confounding, the Phillies need innings. Even from a lefty for whom mid-80s constitutes letting it rip.

And so Vargas was effective Friday. He walked just one batter — his penultimate, James McCann, to lead off the seventh, before the catcher happily erased himself trying to steal third under the watch of Mike Morin. Vargas mainly avoided loud contact, save for one, a changeup that got away against

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LAURENCE KESTERSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Lefty Jason Vargas was solid in his starting debut for the Phillies Friday night. He allowed five hits, two earned runs and struck out five in 6.1 innings, but had to settle for a no decision.