Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Aaron Nola dominates, Phillies take series opener in Houston

Aaron Nola put together his best outing of the 2023 season tonight. (David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 3, Astros 1

In a rematch of last year’s Fall Classic, the Phillies and Astros kicked off a three-game series tonight in Houston. Aaron Nola was on the mound for the defending National League champions, while Framber Valdez got the ball for the reigning World Series champions.

A pitcher’s duel ensued and it was Nola — who pitched eight innings of one run ball on three hits with six strikeouts — that came out of tonight’s contest victorious.

—

After back-to-back ground outs by Bryson Stott and Trea Turner to start the game, Kyle Schwarber stepped into the batter’s box and drove a 3-2 pitch into the right field seats to put Philadelphia on the board first:

The lead didn’t last long, however, as Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña hit a solo home run himself in the home half of the first to tie the game:

One out and two batters later, Alex Bregman stepped up to the plate and drove a 2-2 pitch out to right field. It looked as though the Astros were set to take a 2-1 lead, but Nick Castellanos made a leaping grab to rob Houston’s third baseman of a home run to keep the game tied

The game remained tied at one run apiece until the top of the fifth inning. After a one-out double by Edmundo Sosa, Cristian Pache drove the Phillies third baseman home with his own double to put Philadelphia on top 2-1. Pache would then leave the game with an apparent injury and was replaced by Brandon Marsh.

In the following half inning, Nola got into a bit of trouble. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Jake Meyers was at the plate for the Astros. Meyers tapped a ground ball between Nola and first baseman Alec Bohm. Bohm fielded the grounder and threw it home to cut down José Abreu at the plate to keep Philadelphia’s lead intact. The veteran right-hander got the next two batters — Rylan Bannon and Martin Maldonado — to fly out and strikeout to put an end to Houston’s threat.

Philadelphia increased their lead to two in the seventh inning. After Sosa doubled for the second time tonight, he scored on a single by Marsh.

José Alvarado’s early season dominance continued with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. The 27-year-old lefty picked up his fifth save of the season.

Shibe Vintage Sports Notes

Kyle Schwarber’s first inning home run was his sixth of the year. The long ball traveled 407 feet with an exit velocity of 112.7 miles per hour.
After going 0-for-4 tonight, Nick Castellanos’ eight-game hitting streak came to an end.
According to the Phillies, Cristian Pache left tonight’s game with a right knee injury.

Ticket IQ Next Game