Nola pitches Phillies to big win
Aaron Nola was spectacular again on Saturday, tossing seven shutout innings while collecting eight strikeouts in a 6-2 Phillies victory over the Mets at Citizens Bank Park.

Nola hasn't surrendered a run in his last 13 innings on the mound.

“I had command of all three of my pitches, getting ahead of guys, finishing guys off,” Nola said. “I really wasn’t on top of the ball tonight, but I battled through the first five innings. I didn’t feel the best, but battled through that to get the guys out anyway I could.”

The win brought the Phillies to within two games of the .500 mark. The club will go for a series sweep of the Mets on Sunday.

“It was a big series win against the Mets. They are a good team,” Nola said. “There are not too many breezes any more, especially in the NL East. They are tough games. You take it game by game.”

Jean Segura homered for the Phils in the second inning while Rhys Hoskins hit a bases-clearing three-run double to highlight a five-run fifth inning.

“It kind of blew the game open," Hoskins said. "It’s always good, especially with Nola on the mound. After that, we felt we had a pretty good chance to win that game and the series.”

Hoskins entered Saturday hitting just .200, yet manager Joe Girardi has been unwavering in his support of Hoskins and his approach at the plate.

“I’ve said his at-bats have been good,” Girardi said. “He continues to get on base. Sometimes, it’s not always by the hit. I like his at-bats. He has worked really, really hard every day. Today, it paid off big. That was a big inning for us.”

The Phillies will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon. Zack Wheeler (2-0, 2.89) will get the nod for the Phils while the Mets counter with Rick Porcello (1-2, 5.68).
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Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PGordonPBR

BY PATRICK GORDON
Managing Editor
pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com

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