Aaron Nola returned to the Philadelphia Phillies’ rotation on Sunday after a three-month absence and was greeted rudely by the Washington Nationals. Fortunately, Philadelphia’s potent lineup provided plenty of run support in an 11-9 victory.
Nola, 32, was roughed up for six runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. He got through his first two innings smoothly, allowing only one hit. However, the Nationals began a hit parade in the third.
After Nola struck out Brady House to begin the frame, the next seven Washington batters reached base on three consecutive singles, a walk, another single and two straight doubles. CJ Abrams drove in a run during the barrage, while Daylen Lile and Dylan Crews each got two-RBI hits and José Tena knocked in the Nationals’ sixth run of the inning.
Just like that, a 6-0 lead for the Phillies was gone. Alec Bohm hit a 3-run homer in the second inning to build that 6-run lead. He also returned to the Philadelphia lineup after missing 26 games, going on the IL with a fractured rib on July 19.
Nationals starter Mitchell Parker lasted 1 2/3 innings, giving up five earned runs on four hits and three walks. Washington’s lineup took him off the hook for a loss, but couldn’t quite match the Phillies’ run production on Sunday.
Philadelphia regained the lead in the fourth on a 2-run single by left fielder Weston Wilson and Nick Castellanos followed with a solo homer in the sixth. The Phillies added two more runs in the eighth on an RBI single from Bryce Harper and a Harrison Bader sacrifice fly, building an 11-6 lead.
The Nationals closed to within two runs in the bottom of the ninth on a 3-run homer from Paul DeJong off Phillies reliever Max Lazar. Lazar left a 94.7 mph fastball in the upper middle of the strike zone and DeJong lifted into the left-field seats.
That was followed up by a double by Lile, forcing the Phillies to bring in Jhoan Duran when using their closer didn’t seem necessary when the inning began. Lazar allowed four hits in 1 1/3 innings, but Duran got Crews to ground out and struck out pinch-hitter James Wood to end the game.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he intended to use a 6-man starting staff with Nola’s return. However, Zack Wheeler going on the IL with a blood clot near his right shoulder means that will only apply for one turn through the rotation. Nola’s performance still has to be a concern. The six runs allowed in 2 1/3 innings increased Nola’s ERA to 6.92 this season.
Pending the New York Mets’ matchup with the Seattle Mariners in Sunday night’s MLB Little League Classic, the Phillies (71-53) could build their first-place lead in the NL East back up to six games.
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