Mets knock around Aaron Nola, continue dominance over Phillies with 7-2 win
Aaron Nola struggled, allowing 5 runs in as many innings as the Phillies dropped yet another game to the division leading Mets 7-2.
Mets (77-43) Beat Phillies (65-53)
- Winning Pitcher: Chris Bassitt (11-7, 3.26)
- Losing Pitcher: Aaron Nola (8-10, 3.25)
- Save: n/a
There was a lot of talk from fans and media alike this week, giddy that the Phillies would be be so lucky as to miss facing the Mets top 3 pitchers during this weekend’s 4-game series. But what does it matter when Aaron Nola, your #2 starter and a guy who you could potentially send out to the mound in an elimination game doesn’t show up?
I recently wrote about Nola’s struggles in the month of September and failed in an attempt to identify the cause. After tonight’s performance maybe Nola’s annual late season collapse started two starts earlier than expected.
To put it plainly, Nola got knocked around tonight. Nola allowed 5 earned runs in only 5 innings of work while allowing 8 hits against a Mets team that straight up owns the Phillies this season. It wasn’t a disaster of a start, but pitching at home in front of a sell-out crowd on a Friday night and Nola couldn’t rise to the occasion, spotting the Mets a 4 run lead in the first 3 innings.
The pivotal moment of the game came in the 3rd inning when Nola left a 2-2 fastball out over the plate while facing Pete Alonso with a runner on base. Alonso got his arms extended and crushed his 30th home run this season 353 feet to left field.
It unofficially put the game away for the Mets, who’s starter Chris Bassitt continued his recent success against the Phils, earning his second win in as many weeks. Bassitt allowed only 2 earned runs over 6 innings despite giving up 7 hits.
The Phillies failed to make Bassitt pay for his mistakes and struggled once again, going just 2-7 with runners in scoring position and leaving 9 men on base.
The Phillies dropped to just 4-12 against the Mets this season and now are a unreachable 11 GB of the division leaders with just more than a month to go this season.
The Phillies and Mets play a double header tomorrow with the first game scheduled for 1:05 pm and the second for 7:05 pm.
Alec Bohm make a nice backhand on a Pete Alonso but cant make the throw to second base allowing a run to score and the runner to advance to third base.
1-0 Mets
Pete Alonso takes Aaron Nola deep in the 3rd inning on a 2-2 fastball left over the plate.
3-0 Mets
Jeff McNeil single to right center on the 9th pitch of the at-bat, extending the Mets lead in the 3rd inning.
4-0 Mets
Bryson Stott fails to make an accurate throw home defending the double steal allowing Starling Marte to score from third. Yes, that a steal of home.
5-0 Mets
Kyle Schwarber puts the Phils on the board with an 2-RBI single in the 5th inning.
5-2 Mets
Bradley Zimmer make a fantastic diving play in center field in his first game in a Phillies uniform after being acquired in a trade earlier in the week.
Mets top prospect and rookie Brett Baty comes up huge in his first game against the Phils with a bases loaded 2-RBI single to put the game away.
7-2 Mets
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies will look to bounce back from tonight’s loss Saturday afternoon when they take on the Mets in the first game of a day, night double header.
Zack Wheeler (11-6, 3.07) will toe the rubber facing off against Trevor Williams (2-5, 3.02) with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 pm. The second game of the double header will take place at 7:05 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
