Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Aaron Nola, Phillies offense battle to avoid a sweep in Cleveland

Aaron Nola pitched well for the Phillies Sunday. (David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 8, Guardians 5

In order for the Phillies to reach the postseason for the second consecutive season, they’re going to need their star players to play up to their potentials — something that hasn’t consistently happened so far this year.

Today’s starter Aaron Nola has struggled through a number of his outings in 2023 as he has been giving up more than a fair amount of home runs. Meanwhile, the club’s offense hasn’t quite reached the potential many thought it had before the start of the year.

Coming into today’s series finale against the Guardians, Nola was looking to build off an encouraging start in which he pitched into the eighth inning against the Brewers last Tuesday, while the offense was looking to find itself after manager Rob Thomson had something to say about the top of the lineup’s recent lackluster performance following last night’s 1-0 loss.

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Nola didn’t get off to a great start this afternoon as the first hitter he faced, Steven Kwan, took the veteran right-hander deep:

An inning later, Nola surrendered his 23rd long ball of the season to middle infielder Andrés Giménez:

Nola went on to fight his way through the next five innings as he allowed just one more run. Altogether, the right-hander delivered that encouraging start as he pitched seven innings of three-run ball with seven strikeouts.

As Nola battled on the mound, the Phillies lineup did the same at the plate after Thomson “tweaked” the batting order.

After a quiet first four innings — they scored just one run on a first-inning balk — the offense got going in the fifth inning.

Brandon Marsh led off the frame with his sixth triple of the year and scored two batters later via an infield single by Kyle Schwarber. Bryce Harper then came to the plate after a Trea Turner double and tied the game in a rather odd way:

One inning later, Philadelphia took a 4-3 lead on a defensive miscue by Guardians third baseman José Ramírez.

With two outs in the inning and J.T. Relamuto on second base, Marsh flared a ball out to left field that Ramírez had a read on. However, it popped out of his glove and fell onto the outfield grass, allowing Realmuto to come around and score.

Marsh’s go-ahead hit wasn’t enough, though, as Craig Kimbrel gave up a game-tying solo home run with two outs in the ninth for his first blown save of the season.

However, the Phillies lineup continued to fight in extras and delivered a four-run 10th inning to give them an 8-4 lead.

Philadelphia secured its 53rd win of the season thanks to a heroic effort by Yunior Marte a half inning later.

Marte entered the game after Jeff Hoffman started the frame by giving up a run and loading the bases with nobody out. The young right-hander didn’t seemed fazed, though, as he got three straight batters out to end Cleveland’s rally.

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