Categories: 2023 Postgame RecapsNews

Aaron Nola’s struggles return as Phillies lose third straight

Aaron Nola allowed seven earned runs on Saturday. (Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire)

Final: Brewers 7, Phillies 5

While “vintage” Aaron Nola may have shown up at the end of August, his first start of the new month was a scary reminder of too many Septembers past — and too many starts of late.

Coming off two tremendous starts in a row, Nola regressed on Saturday night in Milwaukee, unable to play stopper after two straight heartbreaking Phillies losses. Nola appeared to overcome his late-season woes in 2022, guiding Philadelphia to a postseason appearance and playing a big role in its National League pennant run. But in start No. 1 this September, the right-hander struggled the way he has for much of this disappointing season.

Nola allowed seven earned runs against the Brewers as the Phillies fell, 7-5, at American Family Field. He gave up eight hits and failed to get out of the fifth inning. And after blowing a lead on Friday, the Phillies have now dropped the opening two of a three-game series against the NL Central-leading Brewers — a perhaps unlikely but possible Philadelphia playoff opponent if things shake a certain way.

The Phillies spotted Nola an early lead on Saturday as Kyle Schwarber smacked a leadoff home run for the second straight night. J.T. Realmuto then added a solo shot of his own — home run No. 150 for his career — in the second to make it 2-0.

But Milwaukee punched back in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs to take the lead on an RBI single from Brice Turang, an RBI double from Tyrone Taylor and a Christian Yelich RBI single. Nola then tossed two scoreless innings before it unraveled in the fifth.

With former Phillie and current Brewers first baseman Carlos Santana batting from the left side with a runner on second, Nola left a curveball up in the zone. “Slamtana” took advantage as he belted a two-run homer to put Milwaukee up 5-2.

After Mark Canha put another run on the board with a double to right-center, Nola was taken out in favor of Andrew Bellatti, who allowed an inherited runner to come home to finish the starter’s line and bring the score to 7-2.

The Phillies offense added three more against the strong Milwaukee bullpen to make it uncomfortable for the Brewers. Trea Turner kept his hot streak rolling with a solo homer in the sixth and Nick Castellanos drove him home with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Schwarber plated another with a single in the ninth, but the hole was too deep to overcome as Devin Williams stranded two Philadelphia runners to save it for the Brewers.

Riding a three-game losing streak, the Phillies (74-61) have squandered opportunities to build upon their lead atop the NL wild-card standings. They currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the first NL wild-card spot.

With the chance to host a best-of-three playoff series at Citizens Bank Park on the line, the Phillies will need to clean up their play down the stretch. Issues with the bullpen, the defense and — most recently — the rotation have plagued them after being red-hot for most of August. Philadelphia can start to put it back together on Sunday afternoon as it looks to avoid a sweep in Milwaukee.

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