Phillies’ Aaron Nola makes spring training debut in 4-4 tie with Orioles

Nola allowed four hits and two runs, both of which scored on a hanging curveball that DJ Stewart drove for a two-run homer. Otherwise, Nola was sharp.

Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola throws during spring training practice in Clearwater, Fla., last Thursday.Read moreJose F. Moreno / File Photograph

by Matt Breen

Published Mar. 1, 2021, 4:05 p.m. ET

Aaron Nola made his spring debut Monday, pitching the first two innings of a 4-4 tie against the Orioles in seven innings.

Nola allowed four hits and two runs, both of which scored on a hanging curveball that DJ Stewart drove for a two-run homer. Otherwise, Nola was sharp.

He used his changeup to set up his lone strikeout – which came on a 92-mph fastball blown past Rio Ruiz – and utilized his whole arsenal over 29 pitches.

“Usually I don’t go into the games throwing everything,” Nola said. “I kind of set on one pitch, but I want to work on keeping all of my pitches sharp and working on my repertoire and fine-tune it and fine-tune my delivery. First day out there, the delivery sometimes feels off, but it felt good today. That’s the main focus right now, getting my arm in sync with my body.”

The Phillies played Monday with fans in Clearwater, Fla., as they are selling 2,200 tickets per game to the 8,500 BayCare Ballpark.

“It’s refreshing to hear them again,” Nola said. “Even if it’s not even half-full, there’s still people there.”

Matt Joyce, in camp on a minor-league deal, made a terrific diving catch in right field in the third inning and homered the next inning. A good spring could push Joyce, a lefthanded hitter, onto the roster. Monday was a good start.

The 36-year-old spent last season with Miami and has a .790 OPS over the last two seasons. He can play the corner outfield spots and come off the bench as a pinch hitter, which becomes a priority again this season as National League pitchers bat again. In the last three seasons, Joyce has hit .240 with a .744 OPS as a pinch hitter.

Joyce would first need to be added to the 40-man roster, which could create complications later this month as the Phillies will likely need to add some relievers — Brandon Kintzler and Tony Watson are also on minor-league deals — to the roster.

Andrew Knapp drove in Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura with a ground-rule double that was lost in the sun by Orioles left fielder Ryan Mountcastle.

Kintzler threw one inning in his spring debut, allowing just one hit. Ramon Rosso, who was the first reliever the Phillies used last season, plunked consecutive batters in his first Grapefruit League appearance and allowed two runs. Michael Ynoa, a hard-throwing righthander on a minor-league deal, touched 94 mph and struck out one in his scoreless inning.

The Phillies play Tuesday in Dunedin against the Blue Jays. Zack Wheeler is scheduled to start against lefthander Steven Matz, who was traded to the Jays this offseason after six years with the Mets. The game will not be broadcast.