Aaron Nola retired the first 15 batters he faced on his way to a dominant four-hitter to lead the visiting Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-0 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday afternoon.
The Phillies won for the 22nd time in 27 games and became the first team in the majors to reach 30 victories this season thanks to Nola’s sixth career complete game. It was Philadelphia’s second complete game this season and the right-hander’s fourth career shutout.
Nola (5-2) struck out eight, walked none and threw 73 of his season-high 109 pitches for strikes. He got eight more outs via ground balls and kept the Mets off-balance with a curveball that he threw 38 times with an average velocity of 79.8 mph.
Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh drove in the first two runs by capitalizing on New York starter Jose Butto’s inability to command the ball in the third inning. Bryson Stott, who drew three walks, added an RBI single in the ninth before Bohm had an RBI double that just stayed fair.
The Phillies picked up their latest win without Bryce Harper, who was scratched shortly before first pitch due to migraines. Harper spent most of the game in the clubhouse before emerging in the dugout in the eighth.
Starling Marte (two), Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil had the hits for the Mets, who dropped to 1-4 in a stretch of seven straight games against the Atlanta Braves and Phillies. The Mets were blanked for the fourth time this season, and Nola threatened to no-hit them after the Braves were one out away from a combined no-hitter on Saturday.
Butto (1-3) allowed two runs on one hit. He struck out four and issued three of his four walks during the third.
After Butto allowed a single and walked Kyle Schwarber and Stott to load the bases with two outs, he hit Bohm with a pitch to bring in the game’s first run. Marsh worked an eight-pitch walk to make it 2-0 before Butto got out of the jam.
Nola retired the first 15 hitters on 59 pitches before Taylor opened the sixth with a clean single. He allowed his second hit on the first pitch of the seventh when Marte singled but completed a three-pitch inning when Francisco Lindor lined out and Pete Alonso bounced into a double play.
Nola also pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, opening the inning by getting J.D. Martinez to strike out on a curveball. Nola entered the ninth at 88 pitches and gave up his third hit when Jeff McNeil blooped a double to left.
After McNeil’s hit, Nola got the second out and Marte singled to put runners at first and third. Nola ended it by getting Lindor to pop out to center field on the first pitch.
–Field Level Media