On Friday night, the Philadelphia Phillies started their final series of the regular season against the Minnesota Twins. The Phillies sent starter Aaron Nola to the mound, looking to rediscover his form before the start of the postseason.
Entering the game, Nola had a 6.46 ERA and a 1.448 WHIP. He was having a season to forget.
Against the Twins, he bucked that trend. Nola made Phillies history and even flirted with a perfect game.
In the first three innings, Nola looked like the player the Phillies signed to a $172 million contract. He showed good control and had his knuckle curve working. He struck out one Twin in each of the first three innings and didn't allow a baserunner.
Then he entered the history books.
Phillies history
Aaron Nola tied Hall of Famer Robin Roberts for the most strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher in Phillies history in the 4th inning by getting Ryan Jeffers looking at a curveball. He passed him in the 5th inning, getting Edouard Julien to swing at the curve. Nola sits behind only Steve Carlton for the most strikeouts in Phillies history (3031).
He still hadn't allowed a single Twin on base. In the 6th inning, Nola got two quick outs. Facing the Twins 9-hole hitter Christian Vázquez, Nola surrendered a solo home run to left field to end the perfect game bid. It was just Vázquez's 3rd home run of the season.
In the 7th, Nola allowed the second hit of the night on a leadoff triple by former Phillie Kody Clemens. Nola responded by flashing his best control of the season. He struck out Jeffers, swinging on a high fastball. Then after two top-notch curveballs to Trevor Larnach, Nola froze him on a 93 MPH sinker on the inside part of the plate.
Nola added another strikeout in the 8th inning for his 9th of the day, a season high. It took him just 90 pitches to get through eight innings. It was the first time he pitched 8+ innings since May 14, 2024 against the Mets.
"He was fantastic," said Manager Rob Thomson. "That's who he is."
Offense strikes
On the offensive side of the ball, the Phillies had to face the Twins' ace Joe Ryan. They quickly found success in the 1st inning. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back singles to set up Alec Bohm with a sac fly for an early 1-0 lead.
Ryan scattered three baserunners over the next three innings. In the 4th, Edmundo Sosa connected on a sweeper for his 11th homer of the season, making it 2-0. The Phillies chased Ryan out of the game after five innings. The Phillies added a third run in the 6th inning on a Brandon Marsh RBI double. Alec Bohm scored on the play.
Jhoan Duran entered the game in the 9th for the save opportunity. After a leadoff single by Christian Vázquez, Duran struck out the next two hitters. Jeffers got a 2-out single, but Duran stranded the runners by inducing a weak fly ball to right.
The win secured the Phillies' 95th win of the season. It's just the 7th time in franchise history that the Phillies have reached the 95-win mark.
