Game 3 - Jake's a Fake, Another L

If the Phillies want to have any shot at all of making the playoffs, they need to beat teams like the Marlins on a regular basis. They lost 10 of 19 against Miami last year and dropped another one today, 5-4 in 12 innings.

All spring long, Phils starter Jake Arietta said he was healthy. Injuries had kept him from his Cy Young form of a few years ago. After what happened today, you have to wonder if he's still hurting. Arietta allowed 10 baserunners in 5.1 innings–7 hits and 3 walks, leading to 4 runs.

Rhys Hoskins finally got his first hit of the season, an RBI triple. JT Realmuto also got his first hit of the season. Miami scored three runs in the bottom of the third and the Phils tied it right up with three in the top of the fourth. Miami regained the lead in the bottom of the 6th, and the Phils tied it again in the top of the 7th.

But a lot of the blame for this loss goes to manager Joe Girardi, who has been heralded for the way he's handled bullpens in the past. Closer Hector Neris didn't get into the game, and Francisco Liriano ended up taking the loss in the 12th after Miguel Rojas scored on a Miguel Aguilar single.

Bright spots for the Phils included Jay Bruce's second homer of the season, and Adam Haseley and Scott Kingery both picking up two hits.

In other NL East action, Arizona beat Atlanta, 8-4, and the Nationals downed the Mets, 5-1. The Phillies are already 1.5 games out of first behind the Nationals.