Aaron Nola hurt by walks, homer, two-strike hit in another punchless Phillies loss to Mets
Canha hit a two-run homer and a two-RBI single, both off Aaron Nola, who now has a 4.70 ERA.
NEW YORK — Aaron Nola plodded from the mound to the dugout after completing the sixth inning Wednesday night, his latest start ending as it began: with a harmless infield fly.
But in between, walks and poorly executed pitches.
Oh, and more Phillies frustration.
Nola allowed a two-run homer in the third inning and a costly two-out, two-strike hit in the fourth — both to Mets outfielder Mark Canha. And because the Phillies’ offense continues to fire blanks, Nola’s mistakes proved lethal in a flat 4-1 loss at Citi Field.
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Make it three consecutive losses — and 11 in the last 16 games — for the Phillies, who are 25-30 and sinking in quicksand.
“Everyone’s frustrated,” Trea Turner said after another 0-for-4. “It’s a matter of believing in ourselves and what we’re capable of and playing better and getting the ball rolling. I know we talk about it nonstop. But it’s kind of what comes first: Having fun or playing better?”
A few of the unsightly numbers:
Nola made six starts in May and posted a 4.93 ERA. In his last two starts, against the rival Braves and Mets, he allowed nine runs on 12 hits and five walks in 12 innings. His ERA overall is 4.70.
The Phillies have scored seven runs in the last four games.
Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto went 0-for-11 with three strikeouts. Through six games on this 10-game trip, they are 7-for-63 (.111) with 15 strikeouts.
“These guys are going to hit,” manager Rob Thomson said before the game. “It says so on the back of their baseball card. They’re going to hit.”
In the meantime, the Phillies are waiting for Nola to pitch like a top-of-the-rotation starter again. This is supposed to be a contract drive. Instead, it’s looking like a wreck on the side of the road with free agency looming on the horizon.
Handed a rare lead, Nola walked Daniel Vogelbach on four pitches to open the third inning. He fell behind Canha and gave up a two-run homer on a hanging cutter.
“Not getting ahead of guys hurt me tonight,” Nola said. “Home runs with guys on base have hurt me all year so far. Just getting behind guys, walking guys. I mean, that’s the main thing. Not getting the first-pitch strike over and too many walks.”
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It’s uncharacteristic for Nola. Last season, he had a 3.6% walk rate en route to a fourth-place finish in the Cy Young Award voting. Through 12 starts, his walk rate is 6%.
Is it a byproduct of pitching into November last year? Or having a shorter-than-usual offseason?
“I don’t know, to tell you the truth,” Thomson said. “I don’t know.”
Thomson noted that Nola seems to be trying to elevate his fastball and cutter more than in the past. It isn’t by design, according to Thomson. But it burned Nola in the fourth inning.
With two on and two out, Nola walked Vogelbach on four pitches — again. But he could still see his way out of the inning. He got Canha into a two-strike count and tried to get him to chase an elevated fastball. Canha dumped it into right field for a two-run single.
“I felt like I wasn’t missing by too much on some guys, but just not aggressive enough in the zone early,” Nola said. “Not making my pitch when I need to.”
And with the way the Phillies have been hitting, a 4-1 deficit meant ballgame over.
Potential rallies fizzled in the fifth inning, when Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor snared a line drive and doubled off Kody Clemens at first base, and in the sixth, when Realmuto grounded out to strand two runners.
Edmundo Sosa and Bryson Stott struck out with two on to end the game.
“We’re going through a tough time,” Thomson said. “I don’t think there’s a secret pill or anything we can take. They’ve just got to keep fighting.”
Said Turner: “We know it’s there. We know it’s going to come. But we want to get this thing started. We want to play better. I think it’s more just frustration than anything.”
» READ MORE: How can the Phillies jump-start their season? Just like last year, it begins at the top of the order.
Realmuto slumping
Thomson said Realmuto won’t be behind the plate Thursday for the matinee series finale.
Good idea. The ironman catcher could use a break.
Realmuto has started six consecutive games and 15 of the last 16, a workload that sets him apart from almost every other catcher in baseball. But he’s also in a deep freeze at the plate. After going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, he’s 3-for-37 with 11 whiffs in his last 12 games.
“Timing’s off,” Thomson said. “He’ll get it back. He’s been working a lot, grinding a lot.”
Double his pleasure
Sosa popped up from a feet-first slide, then clapped his hands and ran them across the front of his jersey in his signature celebration after hitting a double.
One problem: He actually hit a home run.
Sosa’s drive to left field in the third inning hit a fence above the orange line that denotes a Citi Field homer. The umpires signaled for Sosa to circle the bases, giving the Phillies a moment of levity in the dugout — and even rarer lead on the scoreboard.