Aaron Nola caps off strong first half with nine-strikeout outing in win over Dodgers

Final Score: Phillies 5, Dodgers 1

The Phillies’ starting rotation has been one of the best in baseball this season. And with that, there’s been plenty of talk about Zack Wheeler’s continued dominance. Left-handers Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez have received a lot of praise, too, because of the leaps they’ve taken. But there hasn’t been a lot of talk surrounding Aaron Nola. And while his numbers aren’t as good as those other three, he’s been just as dependable as any of them.

Nola made his 19th start of the season on Thursday. He limited the Dodgers to one run on four hits across six innings. The right-hander recorded nine strikeouts along the way, punching out Shohei Ohtani twice.

The veteran found himself in trouble just once and worked his way out of it. With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second inning, Nola recorded his first strikeout of Ohtani. He then got Will Smith to ground into a force out to end the inning.

Including Tuesday’s performance, Nola has pitched at least six innings 14 times this year. He’s allowed three earned runs or fewer 16 times. His 14 quality starts — pitching at least six innings while allowing three earned runs or fewer — are just one short of his total from a year ago.

Altogether, Nola has been as durable as ever while also being better than he was a season ago at this time. Heading into the All-Star Break last season, his ERA was 4.39 in 119 innings across 19 starts. This season, it’s a full run lower (3.38) in nearly the same amount of innings (119 2/3) and the same number of starts (19).

Highlights

• Trea Turner continued his hot month of July in the bottom of the first by hitting his sixth home run in nine games to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead.

• Nola’s first strikeout of Ohtani came on a 1-2 curveball.

• Brandon Marsh swatted his ninth home run of the year in the bottom of the second, extending the Phillies’ lead to 2-0.

• Gavin Lux hit a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth to bring the Dodgers within a run.
• Nola’s second strikeout of Ohtani came on a 95 mph fastball up in the zone.

• Marsh drove in another run with an RBI triple to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.

• Johan Rojas followed Marsh’s triple with a single to give his team a three-run lead.
• In the top of the seventh, Rojas made a spectacular catch for the second out of the inning.

• With the bases loaded with one out in the eighth inning, Bryson Stott caught a line drive off the bat of Miguel Rojas and doubled up Teoscar Hernández at second to end the frame.
• Kyle Schwarber gave the Phillies an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as he smoked a line-drive home run.

Notes

• The Phillies’ sweep of the Dodgers was their ninth of the season.
• Per Rob Thomson, Zack Wheeler will not start Sunday’s game as the club wants to remain cautious with the right-hander and his back. Thomson also said J.T. Realmuto will head to Clearwater during the All-Star Break to continue ramping up for his return.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Friday, July 12 vs. Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park
• 6:40 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
• Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680

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