Aaron Nola will be with the Phillies for seven more years. That means seven more years of the occasional extremely frustrating outing. Those bad outings were more frequent in 2023 and there was hope that there would be fewer in 2024.
Nola got rocked in his first start since signing a seven-year, $172 million contract with the Phillies, allowing seven runs on 12 hits as part of a 12-4 Phillies (0-2) loss to the Braves (2-0). His command was uncharacteristically poor in the early innings and the Braves were able to get to him with home runs from Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson. Travis d’Arnaud doubled to score two on a two-strike breaking pitch out of the zone in the second and Jared Kelenic drove in a run in both the second and third innings.
It was another bad day for Phillies pitching. Seranthony Domínguez allowed a three-run home run to Marcell Ozuna to make it 11-4. Connor Brogdon allowed a home run to Michael Harris II on the first pitch in the ninth inning. Overall, the Phillies have allowed 21 runs in two games against the prolific Braves offense.
Both Nola and Braves starter Max Fried struggled, but Fried’s first-inning pitch count forced him out early.
The Braves lefty starter could have escaped the first inning with no runs, but a horrendous non-strike call both extended the inning and gave the Phillies a chance to score.
Nick Castellanos had the bases loaded, two away and a 2-2 count. Fried, who had already thrown 36 pitches, threw a fastball down the middle –for a ball.
Castellanos then worked a walk to bring in a run. The next batter Bryson Stott drove in two on a base hit to left field and send Fried back to the dugout.
While Braves manager Brian Snitker was forced to go to his bullpen early, Rob Thomson decided to let Nola wear it and eat innings despite not having his best stuff. His limit was 4 1/3 innings and 83 pitches as Nola was replaced by Luis Ortiz.
The Phillies will look to avoid a second consecutive series sweep on opening weekend. Left-hander Ranger Suárez will make his first start of the year against fellow southpaw Chris Sale, who is making his first start as an Atlanta Brave.
Notes
- A brief rain delay moved the scheduled 4:05 first pitch to 4:30.
- Nola is now tied with Chris Short for fourth on the all-time Phillies strikeout list with 1,585.
- Schwarber’s steal of third in the first inning was his first stolen base since Game 1 of the 2022 World Series.
- The entire ballpark held their breath in the first inning when Harper went tumbling over the railing and into the camera well. Harper got up and appeared to be OK.
- Harper is hitless to begin the season. He hit two balls hard to the right side for a double play and looked frustrated as he returned to the dugout in the bottom of the seventh.
- Eagles legends Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox were in the broadcast booth when J.T. Realmuto homered in the bottom of the third.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- Sunday, March 31 vs. Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park
- 1:35 p.m. EST
- NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB Network (out-of-market only)
- 94 WIP
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Bawb Eff
March 31, 2024 at 7:05 am
Yeah these first two games have been something else. Without that blown strike three to Castellanos it woulda been 12-1. Speaking of him, he looks completely lost at the plate, like the 2022 Castellanos. I guess you can’t hit .120 in Spring Training and just turn it on when the season starts after all, huh?
Somebody has to tell Harper to stop going over the railing ffs. No Bryce, we don’t need an out that badly that you hurt yourself and are out a month or so.
Barbara Jean
March 31, 2024 at 8:06 am
I predict that Castellanos will be traded. My favorite Mets fan here in Port St. Lucie FL reminded me that trading Rhys Hoskins was a bad idea, following his tremendous outing with the Brewers the last two games. I cannot believe this is the same team that beat the Braves last year. The Phillies need more help on pitching; and I have been relentless with this subject. Plus, I do not see our awesome lineup hitting yet…
Bawb Eff
March 31, 2024 at 10:47 am
Hoskins was a free agent and the Phillies didn’t offer him a contract and let him walk. The way this team is built there are only so many .250, 30-HR guys you can play every day. When they decided to move Harper to first and Schwarber to full-time DH, it made Hoskins the odd man out. The only way to keep Rhys, logically, would have been to try and trade Schwarber and have Hoskins be full-time DH. The Phils decided to stick with a .190, 45 HR guy over a .245, 35 HR guy.
As far as Castellanos goes he is in year 3 of a 5-year, $100M contract. If you trade him some team will have to be willing to take on $20M/year he is owed or the Phils will have to absorb some. I thought the Phils woulda been wise to make a run at Cody Bellinger, but they decided to stick with Rojas, at least for now.