Phillies’ prized right-hander Jake Arrieta was pulled after four innings and 74 pitches in his first start with his new ballclub against the Miami Marlins on Sunday, a no-decision in a 6-3 defeat.
Arrieta was almost out of the inning without further damage after Anderson flew out, but Lewis Brinson reached on catcher’s interference and Braxton Lee flared an 0-2 pitch into left for a two-run single.
Arrieta needed 32 pitches to get through the first and there was action in the bullpen, but he settled down and allowed just one baserunner the next three innings as the Phillies rallied to tie the game. He was pulled for pinch-hitter Pedro Florimon in the bottom of the fourth.
Meanwhile, the Phillies rallied from the 3-0 deficit with two runs in the first on Odubel Herrera’s RBI double and Nick Williams’ run-scoring single in the first and Rhys Hoskins’ RBI double in the third against Miami starter Trevor Richards.
Arrieta signed a three-year, $75-million contract in spring training with options. Because he signed so late, Arrieta wasn’t ready to start the season and made his debut in Sunday’s eighth game.
The former Cy Young Award winner’s signing boosted the Phillies’ rebuilding efforts and gave a young pitching staff a veteran presence.
The right-hander was topping out at 92-93 mph. His final line was 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.
Arrieta’s next start should come Saturday in Tampa Bay. The Phillies fell to 3-5.
Manziel’s first-quarter touchdown was vintage Johnny Football — a scramble out to the right followed by an off-balance dart to the back of the end zone to former Baylor receiver Antwan Goodley.
For the first time in over two years on Saturday, Johnny Manziel took snaps in a competitive football game.
Playing in The Spring League in Austin, Texas, Manziel quarterbacked the South team for around two quarters in total, completing more than 50 percent of his passes and throwing a touchdown pass in an 11-7 loss.
Manziel was 9 of 15 for 83 yards and a touchdown, but also took three sacks. The former Cleveland Browns first-round pick had the ball down four points with just two minutes to go, but couldn’t pull off the comeback. 