Aaron Nola Finds His Groove
The Phillies needed a spark, and Aaron Nola provided exactly that on Wednesday night. To secure a 4-1 win that completed Philadelphia’s three-game home sweep of the Marlins, he delivered seven strong innings. This win pushed the team’s streak to six straight contests, a season-best run that has fans buzzing at Citizens Bank Park. According to MLB.com Phillies, Nola struck out eight batters while giving up just one solo home run in the sixth inning.
At 33 years old, the right-hander has lowered his ERA to 2.51 over his last five starts. His knuckle curve remains a deadly weapon in his arsenal. He fanned seven Marlins with that specific pitch, showing he still has the stuff to dominate top lineups. This performance is a huge reason why the team is climbing the standings right now.
Nola is starting to look like the pitcher the franchise drafted seventh overall back in 2014. He has now reached 2,000 career strikeouts, joining an elite group of just 94 players in big-league history to hit that mark. Most of these 2,000 strikeouts came while playing for just one club, a rare feat that highlights his loyalty and consistency.
Winning Without the Top Three
The biggest story here is the win itself. The Phillies have struggled all season to win games when their top three starters—Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, and Jesús Luzardo—did not take the mound. Before this game, the team held a rough 19-37 record in those specific contests. This victory changes that narrative immediately and gives the rotation much-needed depth.
Interim manager Don Mattingly had been asked earlier if the team might try a six-man rotation to rest the arms. That plan might not be needed anymore if Nola keeps pitching like this. His 114th career victory tied Cole Hamels for sixth place on the club’s all-time wins list. That is a milestone that connects the current roster to the team’s rich history.
The crowd of 37,031 gave him a loud ovation when he exited after the seventh inning. He matched his season high for innings pitched, proving he can go deep into games when the team needs him most. Although the long ball has been an Achilles’ heel for him all year, one solo homer was not enough to spoil his night.
Support From the Lineup
Nola did not have to do it all alone. Garrett Stubbs’ bases-loaded infield single gave the Phillies the lead in the second inning. They added two more runs an inning later on Luis Arraez’s two-run shot. Bryce Harper scored on that hit and also extended his on-base streak to 23 straight games with a walk earlier in the night.
The team improved to 12 games over .500 for the first time this season. Now they sit just 5 1/2 games back of the first-place Braves in the National League East. With this momentum, a three-game cushion for the second NL Wild Card spot looks much safer. The Phillies are finally showing they can win when the pressure is on.
Nola improved his record to 5-9 while lowering his overall ERA to 5.12, but the wins matter more than the ERA right now. The long ball remains a problem, as he has allowed a home run in eight straight games, but he is learning to manage it. He has 34 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings over this recent hot stretch.
