Phils hit 5 HRs to back Nola, top Braves

PHILADELPHIA » Aaron Nola got enough run support that even another dismal performance by the bullpen couldn’t ruin.

Didi Gregorius hit a grand slam, Bryce Harper blasted a three-run shot and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 13-8 Monday night, giving Nola his first win in nearly a year.

Nola (1-1) allowed one run, two hits and struck out 10 in eight innings. He threw just 89 pitches but was denied an opportunity for his first career complete game in his 130th start. Two relievers gave up seven runs in the ninth.

“Obviously, I wanted to,” Nola said about finishing the game. “I understand where they’re coming from, for sure.”

Nola said he would’ve fought harder to stay in the game if it were 2-1 or 3-1. The ace right-hander was 0-5 in nine starts since his last win at Boston on August 20, 2019.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi said he removed Nola because there have been many injuries to pitchers across the majors.

“My job is to protect players from themselves,” he said. “I feel bad for pulling him.”

The Phillies had lost Nola’s last nine starts, scoring only 27 runs combined in those games.

Roman Quinn, Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto added solo shots for Philadelphia, which bounced back after getting swept in Sunday’s doubleheader to earn a split of the fourgame series.

The Phillies jumped on Braves lefty Sean Newcomb (0-2) in the first when Harper drove a 3-1 pitch way out to right-center into Atlanta’s bullpen, setting off air horns and cow bells from fans gathered outside the stadium.

The group, which calls itself the “Phandemic Krew,” has grown from a few people to more than 30. Some folks bring ladders to peek into the ballpark and others sit on lawn chairs. They watch the game on a television hanging on a brick wall in Ashburn Alley out in left-center field.

Gregorius made it 10-1 during a seven-run second inning that chased Newcomb.