Josh Bell, who hadn’t sniffed a hit all weekend, stepped up with two on and two out. And because baseball is baseball, the guy who was 0-for-9 to start the season did what Phillies fans have seen him do too many times before—he crushed an Aaron Nola fastball into the center-field seats for a three-run homer. The Nationals never looked back, and the Phillies left town on the wrong end of a 5-1 loss Sunday in the series finale at Nationals Park.
Nola had been cruising before that fateful fourth inning. He swiftly retired the first two batters before plunking Keibert Ruiz with a pitch. Nathaniel Lowe followed with a single. And then Bell, the longtime Phillie tormentor, did what he does. Nola’s day unraveled from there.
By the time it was over, Nola had allowed five runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight. The good news? The swing-and-miss stuff was there. The bad news? The home run issues from the past two seasons—30-plus allowed in each—are still lurking.
Meanwhile, Washington starter Mitchell Parker worked around trouble in the early innings, stranding multiple runners in each of the first three frames. But once Bell gave him a lead, he settled in, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings while scattering seven hits and striking out five.
Nathaniel Lowe tacked on a two-run shot in the sixth to officially end Nola’s day, and the Phillies’ offense never found its groove. They threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with nobody out, but managed just one run on an RBI grounder before Kyle Finnegan shut the door for his first save.
The Big Picture Takeaway
Josh Bell mashing against the Phillies? Yeah, that’s a tale as old as time. Sunday’s blast was his 16th against them—the most he’s hit against any team. And just like that, another chapter in Aaron Nola’s long-ball saga was written. One minute, he’s cruising. The next, he’s watching a fastball disappear into the seats. Bell’s shot came on a 92 mph heater, middle-up, a gift he didn’t waste. Then came Nathaniel Lowe in the sixth, turning around a 93 mph fastball left over the plate, just down in the zone. Different hitter, same result. We know Nola is prone to the homer, but things won't be easier next weekend when he faces a potent Dodgers lineup.
Quotable
“I feel like it’s hurt me the past few years, a lot. I mean, solo home runs are whatever — I’d rather solo home runs — but the ones that really hurt are the three-run homers, like today." - Aaron Nola on his outing, per Philly.com. Phillies WPA (win probability added)
Edmundo Sosa was the lone Philly player on Sunday to record two hits. He also scored the lone run and finished with a 0.04 WPA. Nola, meanwhile, finished with a -0.17 WPA.
Injury Updates
Skipper Rob Thomson told reporters following Sunday's contest that shortstop Trea Turner (back tightness) will get another off day on Monday to rest his back. He's expected to be back in the lineup on Wednesday. Backstop J.T. Realmuto (foot contusion) is expected to play in the home opener.
What's Next
Weather permitting, the Phillies will open the home portion of their schedule on Monday with a 3:05pm contest against the Rockies. Cristopher Sanchez will make the start for the Phillies, while the Rockies counter with veteran righty German Marquez.
