The Phillies needed something big like this, something to change the momentum and get them pointed back in the right direction after a couple of days’ worth of bad news on the field and off.
Aaron Nola struck out 10 and walked none and the bats came alive for 13 hits, including two home runs, as the Phillies ran all over the Miami Marlins, 11-0, in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Friday night.
The win improved the Phillies to 22-19 and came one day after they squandered a three-run lead in the eighth inning on their way to a demoralizing 7-6 walk-off loss to the Marlins in the first game of the crucial seven-game series.
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After that game, it was revealed that Zack Wheeler, half of the team’s top-of-the-rotation 1-2 punch along with Nola, would miss time with a torn fingernail on his pitching hand. On Friday, manager Joe Girardi and Wheeler revealed that the injury was more significant than initially reported and his status for the remainder of the season in now uncertain.
For seven innings, Nola and the bats eased the Phillies’ concerns.
Now onto the nightcap, the third game of this seven-game series.
Nola’s night
MLB
Oh, it was brilliant.
The right-hander struck out eight of the Marlins’ first 11 batters and did not allow a hit until Brian Anderson led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Until that point, Nola had allowed just one baserunner, a hit batsman.
For the game, Nola gave up just three singles and hit two batters. He threw 105 pitches over the seven-inning gem.
Doubleheader games are just seven innings in this pandemic season of 2020. Nola was credited with the first complete game and shutout of his career. He has made 136 big-league starts and is 58-38.
Offense shines
The Phillies did a lot of damage with the bats, most of it against rookie lefty Trevor Rogers.
Andrew McCutchen homered and doubled on his way to three hits and three RBIs.
Adam Haseley had three hits, including a pair of doubles. Two of Haseley’s hits came against a lefty. Girardi had previously held Haseley out against lefties.
Jean Segura drove in a pair of runs with a double.
Rhys Hoskins clubbed a three-run homer. It was his 10th homer in his last 23 games. He has 20 RBIs over that span.
Bryce Harper continued to slump. He went 0 for 4 and is 9 for 66 (.136) with a double and two homers in the last 21 games.