(Aaron Nola on a historic run to start Postseason, continues to show up in the big moment after struggling again throughout the regular season)
Zach Gallow
(Former Athlete/Former Coach/Sports Writer)
(10/18/2023)
Late Tuesday night in South Philly Aaron Nola was cruising through five shutout innings commanding the strike zone with a nasty three-pitch combo. Facing a young, powerful, scrappy lineup in what felt like a “must” win for a Diamondbacks team that had run the table heading into Philly, Nola was locked in commanding his arsenal, pumping gas free and easy. Through three scoreless Nola had yet to surrender a hit to Diamondback’s first ten hitters. Striking out four, on (33) pitches staying ahead in the count early. Following a Schwarber rocket sneaking over the right field fence, Nola took the mound up 2-0 in the 4th. In a tight game with a desperate Diamondbacks lineup the second time through, Marte ripped a hanging knuckle curve up the middle to leadoff. With speed on first, an opportunity to run with Nola in the stretch brought up the heart of Arizona’s lineup. Nola fought back in a seven-pitch AB to get Pham, then struck out cleanup Walker on four pitches. Gurriel stepped in the box, two out with men on 1st and 2nd, Nola had him guessing early rolling over a first pitch knuckle curve. Working through the fourth with complete command, Nola proved he could locate his offspeed with no fear of hanging one.
Arizona’s RHP Merrill Kelly caught fire, running through six in a row and holding the Phillies to two over five. A game Philly stole momentum immediately on a Turner HR. Arizona’s gritty lineup rolled over to face Nola a third time through the order. Coming off another regular season of Nola showing the potential of a true ace one inning then blowing up the next, it felt Arizona finally hung on long enough to get a little spark heading into the sixth with a chance to take momentum heading into late innings. Aaron took the bump ready to battle, getting a rollover ground ball to the unanimous rookie of the year Carroll. Nola’s fastball dropped quickly to 92, allowing Marte to catch up to a high heater, crushing a double to right. Powerful Pham and Walker stepped into the box to face Nola again with a chance to cut the lead in half. Continuing to lose velocity Nola went to his knuckle curve he commanded all game. An 0-2 down and away knuckle curve had Pham roll over into a huge out two, then emptying the tank on a six-pitch at-bat to cleanup Walker, Noles sat Walker down swinging on a 1-2 knuckle curve down and away.
(Nola Vs. Walker six pitch at-bat Nola strikes out Walker final out of 6th Inning)
The electrifying big game Nola battled, making big pitch after big pitch commanding a solid three-pitch arsenal, without hanging an off-speed pitch, shutting down any doubt of a collapse. Nola’s six, shutdown innings set up a Philly offensive explosion that shook the bank, scoring four runs in both the sixth and seventh to start a party at the bank on route to a 10-0 victory handing Arizona their first shutout in playoff history.
If the Phillies can take care of business by advancing to back-to-back fall classics, it would be impossible to overlook game two. Aaron Nola’s struggles seemed to prove he had lost the ability of an ace sparking debates heading into the postseason he had fallen to a fourth starter. Nola hasn’t just answered the call to be a solid second starter, he responded with historic numbers going 3-0/.96 ERA/18.2 IP/19K/3BB. While the Phillies were held to two runs on two early solo home runs heading into the sixth inning Aaron Nola answered with big pitch after big pitch to keep Arizona off the board, keeping the bank rocking, and setting up the breakout back-to-back four-run innings.
Zachary R Gallow
