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Despite strong start by Nola, Phillies fall to Yankees in Game 2 of doubleheader

FINAL: Yankees 3, Phillies 1

Just hours after completing an encouraging win against the New York Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies bats went silent as they lost the second game of a doubleheader.

Aaron Nola pitched very well in the Phillies loss on Wednesday night. (Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

While Aaron Nola pitched very well, the Phillies were unable to score and the bullpen ultimately gave away the game in a tough loss.

Top Plays

The Phillies threatened in the bottom of the first against Yankees starter Jonathan Loaisiga, but were unable to get any runs across. After the first two batters, Adam Haseley and Rhys Hoskins, reached on an infield single and walk, the Phillies did not score

After putting the Yankees down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Nola ran into trouble in the top of the second when he served up a long solo home run to Luke Voit that game the Yankees a 1-0 lead. However, Nola still struck out five through the first two innings, and looked strong from the start.

It did not take long for the Phillies to strike back. After Neil Walker reached on a two-out double, catcher Andrew Knapp hit him home with a bloop single to right field to tie the game at 1-1.
After allowing the second inning home run, Nola settled in well. He punched out 12 hitters, including striking out the side in the second and fifth. He did not allow a runner past first base following the home run, and exited after six innings of one run work.

After Loaisiga was lifted in the third inning, the Phillies were unable to get anything going against the Yankees bullpen. Luis Avilan, Chad Green and Adam Ottavino combined for 3.2 perfect innings to keep pace with Nola
Nola’s night was done after six strong innings, but his bullpen failed to keep his dominance against the Yankees. Tommy Hunter came in and allowed four hits as the Yankees scored two runs on RBI singles by Mike Tauchman and Gio Urshela to take the lead that they would hold through the end of the game.

The Phillies could not muster anything against Zack Britton, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning to close the game out and give the Yankees a 3-1 win.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

Jonathan Loaisiga: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
This was a bullpen game for the Yankees, and Loaisiga did his job. He worked through a first-inning jam and just allowed the one run on the RBI single by Knapp in the second.
Aaron Nola: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, 1 HR
Nola pitched well enough to win on Wednesday, but the Phillies were unable to score for him and Tommy Hunter failed to preserve the tie in the seventh inning. The Phillies have now lost nine consecutive Aaron Nola starts.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Aaron Nola

Beyond the solo home run, Nola was virtually lights out on Wednesday night. He allowed just three hits and tied a career-high striking out 12 in just six innings of work, throwing 88 pitches and 57 strikes. It was vintage Nola, the best he has looked since his dominant 2018 season.

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