Aaron Nola reminds everyone he still exists, flirts With perfection in Phillies’ 3-1 win

Aaron Nola took the mound Friday night at Citizens Bank Park with a season that’s been, let’s be honest, mostly a nightmare. Bad ankle, bad ribs, bad results. It’s been his worst year since he showed up in Philly in 2015. But for one night, he looked like the guy who used to be “the guy.”

Aaron Nola carried a perfect game into the sixth inning, shoved eight strong innings, and struck out nine without walking a batter in the Phillies’ 3-1 win over the Twins.

The only blemish was a Christian Vázquez solo shot that spoiled the perfection and made it 2-1 in the sixth. Still, it was a vintage Aaron Nola performance and a reminder that he can still deal when everything clicks.

Aaron Nola Masterclass

Nols was nasty 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VEcq3BOFKk

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 27, 2025

The outing also pushed Aaron into rarified franchise air. His strikeout of Edouard Julien in the fifth was No. 1,872 of his career, moving him past Robin Roberts into second place on the Phillies’ all-time list behind Steve Carlton.

Think about that… only Lefty has more Ks in Phillies history.

Aaron Nola moves into 2nd place for career strikeouts in @Phillies history! pic.twitter.com/IvZUEAO559

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2025

The bats did just enough to back him. Alec Bohm plated one on a sac fly in the first, Edmundo Sosa stayed hot with a solo shot in the fifth, and Brandon Marsh ripped an RBI double in the sixth.

THERE HE GOES AGAIN pic.twitter.com/45RoAV1x8O

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 27, 2025

That was plenty with Nola mowing hitters down. Jhoan Duran handled the ninth, locking down his 32nd save by getting Trevor Larnach with two on to end it.

This all comes with some weird postseason context.

Rob Thomson has already lined up Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, and Jesús Luzardo as his NLDS rotation. Nola was not in the plan.

Thomson said before the game he could be used out of the bullpen, which would be the first relief appearance of Nola’s entire career.

Friday night was a reminder that maybe having him as a secret weapon in October isn’t the craziest thing in the world.

Up next, it’s Ranger Suárez against former Phillies prospect Mick Abel, who’ll be facing Philly for the first time since he got shipped to Minnesota at the deadline.

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