Aaron Nola is ready for opening day.
The Phillies’ ace closed the Washington Nationals on Friday night with five soft innings, including two in which Washington received an extra outing, as the Phillies defeated the world champions, 7-2, in the first. of the three exhibition games during Spring Training 2.0.
The Phillies will host the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday and will play in the New York Yankees on Monday before opening the shortened 60-game season next Friday at Citizens Bank Park against the Florida Marlins.
The season closed in mid-March due to coronavirus concerns and did not resume until early July. Nola was late coming back from camp because she had contacted someone who tested positive for coronavirus but never tested positive for herself.
Because he didn’t start camp on time, manager Joe Girardi has resisted labeling the right-hander as his opening day starter.
He will have no reservation after Nola’s dominant departure. In two innings, including one in which Nola threw only six pitches, the Nationals sent a fourth batter to the plate to increase Nola’s pitch count.
Both times, Nola retired the next hitter.
“It was very efficient,” said Girardi. “We planned for him to pitch four (innings) and 70 (pitches). The pitch count was so low that we gave him additional outs and let him go five. He was in front all night. His change was great. If I could go six-eighty (opening day), we’d be comfortable doing that. “
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The Phillies abused three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer when Didi Gregorius hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Bryce Harper, the former Scherzer Nationals teammate, logged in for another three-bang. yards on the second.
Scherzer calmed down and struck out on the side in the fifth, his last inning, but the damage was done.
The game was played without fans as most, if not all games will be this year at Nationals Park.
“I was really impressed, especially after a 2 and a half hour bus ride,” said Girardi. “It was nice to see another team. I thought he had a little more enthusiasm. We all wonder what it will be like in Game 3, 4, 10, 20 with no fans in the stands. Everything feels a little different, everyone learns to adapt and we will dedicate ourselves more and more to it ”.
Notes: Before the game, the Phillies announced that Neil Walker will be part of the team, while reliever Francisco Liriano and Logan Forsythe were released. Relief Victor Arano was selected for the alternate training site, but may return on opening day, and Henri Lartigue was removed from the group of players.
Zach Eflin, who missed a week with spasms in his back, pitched two innings of a mock game at Citizens Bank Park and will pitch again on Thursday. It still seems unlikely that Eflin is ready to start the season.
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