The Philadelphia Phillies love to make things interesting. Aaron Nola was on the mound looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since the start of the season when the Phillies began the season 4-0. Nola surrendered a run in the top of the first inning, but the Phillies answered right back thanks to a leadoff home run from Andrew McCutchen.

It was McCutchen’s second leadoff homer in the past three days and the 17th of his career. Cutch, who desperately needed a slump-breaking game, wasn’t finished yet. He hit another home run in the bottom of the third inning to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. Didi Gregorius hit an RBI single to score JT Realmuto and the Phillies were up 3-1.

The Phillies, would continue to rally in the third inning thanks to a two-out, two-run home run from Brad Miller to give them a commanding 6-1 lead. Aaron Nola would settle in and retired 10 in a row at one point as his pitch count passed 100. Nola threw 114 pitches in six innings, the third most in his career. It was an absolute workhorse performance from the Phillies ace and he left the ball game with a 6-1 lead after throwing six innings, the last of which where he worked himself out of a bases loaded jam by striking out his 10th and final batter of the night.

Phillies RHP Enyel De Los Santos was set to pitch the seventh inning, but apparently he wasn’t on the umpire’s lineup card. The Phillies had to go with fan favorite, David Hale instead. How a lineup card got past Joe Girardi and Rob Thompson without being checked is beyond me, but moving on to David Hale.

Hale, who is absolutely terrible, allowed two base runners with no outs, immediately let up an RBI single and left runners on the corners with no outs. Jojo Romero came in for Hale and let up a two-run home run. Just like that, the Phillies’ 6-2 lead was now a 6-5 lead heading into the eighth inning. 

Sam Coonrod, the Phillies best reliever, pitched a five out save to secure the win. It was the Phillies sixth consecutive one-run game. They move back to .500 at 15-15 and into a tie for first in the NL East.

Notes: 

Roman Quinn got hit on the right hand with a 90 mph cutter while trying to bunt and had to leave the game. Bad timing for Quinn, who had three hits over the past three days. Quinn needed nine stitches to close the cut on his index finger, but x-rays were negative. He will be heading to at least the 10-day injury list.

Chase Anderson will pitch tomorrow night in game three of four against the Brewers.

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Mandatory Credit: NBC Sports Philadelphia